Biliary tract cancer detection kit or device, and detection method

ABSTRACT

The present invention provides a kit or device for the detection of biliary tract cancer, and a method for detecting biliary tract cancer. The present invention relates to a kit or device for the detection of biliary tract cancer, comprising a nucleic acid capable of specifically binding to miRNA in a sample of a subject, and a method for detecting biliary tract cancer, comprising measuring the miRNA in vitro.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a Divisional of U.S. application Ser. No. 16/822,839 filed Mar. 18, 2020, which is a Divisional of U.S. application Ser. No. 15/317,846, filed on Dec. 9, 2016 (now U.S. Pat. No. 10,633,708), which is the National Phase under 35 U.S.C. § 371 of International Application No. PCT/JP2015/066820, filed on Jun. 11, 2015, and claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C. § 119(a) to Patent Application No. 2014-185733, filed in Japan on Sep. 11, 2014, and Patent Application No. 2014-120884, filed in Japan on Jun. 11, 2014. All of the above applications are hereby expressly incorporated by reference into the present application.

REFERENCE TO ELECTRONIC SEQUENCE LISTING

The application contains a Sequence Listing which has been submitted electronically in .XML format and is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. Said .XML copy, created on Aug. 30, 2022, is named “PH-6232-PCT-ST26-20 ety.220812.xml” and is 458,453 bytes in size. The sequence listing contained in this .XML file is part of the specification and is herein incorporated by reference in its entirety.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a kit or a device for the detection of biliary tract cancer, comprising a nucleic acid capable of specifically binding to a particular miRNA, which is used for examining the presence or absence of biliary tract cancer in a subject, and a method for detecting biliary tract cancer, comprising measuring an expression level of the miRNA using the nucleic acid.

BACKGROUND ART

The biliary tract refers to the entire route of excretion of bile secreted from hepatic cells into the duodenum, and is broadly divided into the intrahepatic bile duct inside the liver and the extrahepatic biliary tree outside the liver. The extrahepatic biliary tree is broadly divided into 3 areas: the extrahepatic bile duct through which the bile is transported from the liver to the duodenum; the gallbladder which temporarily stores and enriches the bile; and the duodenal papilla or the papilla which is an opening site of the bile duct and the main pancreatic duct at the duodenal lumen.

A great majority of biliary tract cancer cases are caused by the malignant transformation of biliary epithelial cells that surround the lumen, and respond, merely weakly, to chemotherapy or radiotherapy. Thus, surgical resection based on early detection is only one radical cure for such biliary tract cancer. However, early biliary tract cancer lacks subjective symptoms. For example, this cancer manifests subjective symptoms such as jaundice or itch only after the bile duct is obstructed with the progression of the cancer so that the bile flows back into a blood vessel. Therefore, biliary tract cancer is often detected in an advanced cancer state. As for intrahepatic bile duct cancer, because the extrahepatic bile duct is rarely obstructed, the disease often progresses asymptomatically without symptoms of jaundice. According to the 2011 statistics of cancer type-specific mortality in Japan disclosed by the Center for Cancer Control and Information Services, National Cancer Center, the number of biliary tract cancer deaths climbed to 18,186 people, and 5-year relative survival rates by cancer type in 2003 to 2005 were in the second lowest position following pancreatic cancer with 22.5% for males and 19.9% for females. Since the biliary tract is closely related to important organs such as the liver and the pancreas, biliary tract cancer is responsible for poor prognosis resulting from its metastasis to these organs.

The biliary tract cancer is broadly divided into three types, extrahepatic bile duct cancer, gallbladder cancer, and papillary cancer, depending on sites of origin. The extrahepatic bile duct cancer is further divided into four types: a cancer that develops in the hepatic portal region which serves as the entrance of the liver (hilar cholangiocarcinoma); a cancer that develops in the upper region from the hepatic portal region to the gallbladder (upper bile duct cancer); a cancer that develops in the middle region from the gallbladder to the pancreas (middle bile duct cancer); and a cancer that develops in the distal region from the pancreas to the duodenal papilla (distal bile duct cancer). A bile duct cancer that develops closer to the liver is known to be more difficult to operate and to have poorer prognosis.

The UICC (Unio Internationalis Contra Cancrum) stages of progression of extrahepatic bile duct cancer, gallbladder cancer, and papillary cancer are defined in “Classification of Biliary Tract Cancer, the 5th edition” (edited by the Japanese Society of Hepato-Biliary-Pancreatic Surgery, KANEHARA & Co., LTD., 2003, p. 109) and classified into stages 0, IA, IB, IIA, IIB, III, IVa, and IVb according to lymph node metastasis, metastasis to extraperitoneal distant organs, macroscopic spread around the bile duct, etc. The LTICC stages of progression of intrahepatic bile duct cancer are defined in “TNM Classification of Malignant Tumours, the 7th edition, Japanese version” (LTICC Japan National Committee, translated by TNM Committee, KANEHARA & Co., LTD., 2012, p. 110) and classified into stages I, II, III, IVa, and IVb according to lymph node metastasis, metastasis to extraperitoneal distant organs, macroscopic spread around the bile duct, etc.

Limitedly invasive biochemical examination of blood, tumor marker tests, and abdominal ultrasonography are generally used in the initial diagnosis of biliary tract cancer (Non-patent Literature 1). The biochemical examination of blood for the detection of biliary tract cancer employs, for example, alkaline phosphatase, γ-GTP, or bilirubin, which is elevated due to hepatic dysfunction. For example, CEA, CA19-9, DUPAN-2, CA195, CA242, and IL-6 are known as the tumor markers for the detection of biliary tract cancer. As for how to use these tumor markers, a subject is suspected of having a cancer when their concentrations in blood are higher or lower than predetermined reference values. For example, as described in Non-patent Literature 2, the reference value of CEA is set to 5 ng/mL, and the reference value of CA19-9 is set to 37 U/mL. A subject is suspected of having a cancer including biliary tract cancer when their concentrations exhibit these values or higher.

There are reports, albeit at a research stage, on the detection of biliary tract cancer using the expression levels of proteins or genes in biological samples including blood.

Patent Literature 1 describes a method for detecting biliary tract cancer using the expression levels of proteins in biliary tract tissues.

Patent Literature 2 describes a method for diagnosing digestive organ cancers including biliary tract cancer using mRNA genes extracted from cells (mononuclear cells, etc.) in blood.

CITATION LIST Patent Literature

-   Patent Literature 1: JP Patent Publication (Kokai) No. 2012-237685 A     (2012) -   Patent Literature 2: JP Patent Publication (Kokai) No. 2013-223520 A     (2013)

Non-Patent Literature

-   Non-patent Literature 1: “Evidence-based clinical practice     guidelines for the management of biliary tract cancers”, edited by     the publishing committee of the evidence-based clinical practice     guidelines for the management of biliary tract cancers,     Igakutosho-shuppan Ltd., 2007, p. 38-39 -   Non-patent Literature 2: Kiyoshi Kurokawa, LAB DATA, 2013, p. 633,     636

SUMMARY OF INVENTION Problem to be Solved by Invention

An object of the present invention is to find a novel tumor marker for biliary tract cancer and to provide a method that can effectively detect biliary tract cancer using a nucleic acid capable of specifically binding to the marker. As described in Non-patent Literature 1, limitedly invasive biochemical examination of blood, tumor marker tests, and abdominal ultrasonography are generally used in the initial diagnosis of biliary tract cancer. The rate of tumor visualization (probability at which cancer can be detected from images) for biliary tract cancer by the abdominal ultrasonography varies widely from 21 to 90% (Non-patent Literature 1) and is decreased, particularly, for sites of tumors that occupy the lower bile duct. The biochemical examination of blood for the detection of biliary tract cancer employs, for example, alkaline phosphatase, γ-GTP, or bilirubin, which is elevated due to hepatic dysfunction. However, such biochemical examination of blood does not specifically detect biliary tract cancer. For example, CEA, CA19-9, DUPAN-2, CA195, CA242, and IL-6 are known as the tumor markers for the detection of biliary tract cancer. Among them, CEA is known to be elevated by 40 to 70% in biliary tract cancer patients, while CA19-9 is known to be elevated by 50 to 79% in biliary tract cancer patients (Non-patent Literature 1). However, Non-patent Literature 1 states that these tumor markers are not specific for biliary tract cancer and are difficult to use in early diagnosis. Also, Non-patent Literature 1 states that the clinical usefulness of DUPAN-2, CA195, CA242, or IL-6 is not clear. Therefore, in the case of using the conventional tumor markers, there may be the possibility of false detection of other cancers and/or benign tumors and/or benign diseases of the biliary tract and/or peribiliary organs, etc.

As described below, there are reports, albeit at a research stage, on the detection of biliary tract cancer using the expression levels of proteins or genes in biological samples including blood, none of which, however, have yet been brought into practical use.

Patent Literature 1 describes a method for detecting biliary tract cancer using the expression levels of proteins in biliary tract tissues. In this detection method, however, tissue resection by surgical operation is essential for obtaining samples. This step places a great physical burden on patients. Therefore, this method is not favorable as an examination method. In addition, Patent Literature 1 does not describe the specific detection performance, such as accuracy, sensitivity, or specificity for discriminating biliary tract cancer, of this detection method and is thus poorly industrially practical.

Patent Literature 2 describes a method for diagnosing digestive organ cancers including biliary tract cancer using mRNA genes extracted from cells (mononuclear cells, etc.) in blood. This detection method, however, requires dozens to several hundreds of mRNAs to be used in combination and might thus cause increased examination cost and a complicated classification algorithm when actually developed for examination. In addition, the mRNAs are easily decomposable and unstable in blood and are therefore not favorable as analytes.

As mentioned above, the existing tumor markers exhibit low performance in the detection of biliary tract cancer, and neither performance nor detection methods are specifically shown as to the markers at a research stage. Therefore, use of these markers might impose an implementation of needless extra examination due to the false detection of healthy subjects as being biliary tract cancer patients, or might waste therapeutic opportunity because of overlooking biliary tract cancer patients. In addition, the measurement of dozens to several hundreds of genes increases examination cost and is therefore difficult to use in large-scale screening such as medical checkup. Furthermore, the collection of biliary tract tissues for measuring the tumor markers is highly invasive to patients and is not favorable. Hence, there is a demand for a highly accurate biliary tract cancer marker that is detectable from blood, which can be collected in a less invasive manner, and is capable of correctly determining a biliary tract cancer patient as a biliary tract cancer patient and a healthy subject as a healthy subject. Particularly, a highly sensitive biliary tract cancer marker is desired because tumor resection based on early detection is only radical cure for biliary tract cancer.

Means for Solution of Problem

The present inventors have conducted diligent studies to attain the object and consequently completed the present invention by finding several genes usable as markers for the detection of biliary tract cancer from blood, which can be collected with limited invasiveness, and finding that biliary tract cancer can be significantly detected by using nucleic acid(s) capable of specifically binding to any of these markers.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

Specifically, the present invention has the following features:

(1) A kit for the detection of biliary tract cancer, comprising nucleic acid(s) capable of specifically binding to at least one or more polynucleotide(s) selected from the group consisting of biliary tract cancer markers miR-125a-3p, miR-6893-5p, miR-204-3p, miR-4476, miR-4294, miR-150-3p, miR-6729-5p, miR-7641, miR-6765-3p, miR-6820-5p, miR-575, miR-6836-3p, miR-1469, miR-663a, miR-6075, miR-4634, miR-423-5p, miR-4454, miR-7109-5p, miR-6789-5p, miR-6877-5p, miR-4792, miR-4530, miR-7975, miR-6724-5p, miR-8073, miR-7977, miR-1231, miR-6799-5p, miR-615-5p, miR-4450, miR-6726-5p, miR-6875-5p, miR-4734, miR-16-5p, miR-602, miR-4651, miR-8069, miR-1238-5p, miR-6880-5p, miR-8072, miR-4723-5p, miR-4732-5p, miR-6125, miR-6090, miR-7114-5p, miR-564, miR-451a, miR-3135b, miR-4497, miR-4665-5p, miR-3622a-5p, miR-6850-5p, miR-6821-5p, miR-5100, miR-6872-3p, miR-4433-3p, miR-1227-5p, miR-3188, miR-7704, miR-3185, miR-1908-3p, miR-6781-5p, miR-6805-5p, miR-8089, miR-665, miR-4486, miR-6722-3p, miR-1260a, miR-4707-5p, miR-6741-5p, miR-1260b, miR-1246, miR-6845-5p, miR-4638-5p, miR-6085, miR-1228-3p, miR-4534, miR-5585-3p, miR-4741, miR-4433b-3p, miR-197-5p, miR-718, miR-4513, miR-4446-3p, miR-619-5p, miR-6816-5p, miR-6778-5p, miR-24-3p, miR-1915-3p, miR-4665-3p, miR-4449, miR-6889-5p, miR-486-3p, miR-7113-3p, miR-642a-3p, miR-7847-3p, miR-6768-5p, miR-1290, miR-7108-5p, miR-92b-5p, miR-663b, miR-3940-5p, miR-4467, miR-6858-5p, miR-4417, miR-3665, miR-4736, miR-4687-3p, miR-1908-5p, miR-5195-3p, miR-4286, miR-3679-3p, miR-6791-5p, miR-1202, miR-3656, miR-4746-3p, miR-3184-5p, miR-3937, miR-6515-3p, miR-6132, miR-187-5p, miR-7111-5p, miR-5787, miR-6779-5p, miR-4516, miR-4649-5p, miR-760, miR-3162-5p, miR-3178, miR-940, miR-4271, miR-6769b-5p, miR-4508, miR-6826-5p, miR-6757-5p, miR-3131, and miR-1343-3p.

(2) The kit according to (1), wherein miR-125a-3p is hsa-miR-125a-3p, miR-6893-5p is hsa-miR-6893-5p, miR-204-3p is hsa-miR-204-3p, miR-4476 is hsa-miR-4476, miR-4294 is hsa-miR-4294, miR-150-3p is hsa-miR-150-3p, miR-6729-5p is hsa-miR-6729-5p, miR-7641 is hsa-miR-7641, miR-6765-3p is hsa-miR-6765-3p, miR-6820-5p is hsa-miR-6820-5p, miR-575 is hsa-miR-575, miR-6836-3p is hsa-miR-6836-3p, miR-1469 is hsa-miR-1469, miR-663a is hsa-miR-663a, miR-6075 is hsa-miR-6075, miR-4634 is hsa-miR-4634, miR-423-5p is hsa-miR-423-5p, miR-4454 is hsa-miR-4454, miR-7109-5p is hsa-miR-7109-5p, miR-6789-5p is hsa-miR-6789-5p, miR-6877-5p is hsa-miR-6877-5p, miR-4792 is hsa-miR-4792, miR-4530 is hsa-miR-4530, miR-7975 is hsa-miR-7975, miR-6724-5p is hsa-miR-6724-5p, miR-8073 is hsa-miR-8073, miR-7977 is hsa-miR-7977, miR-1231 is hsa-miR-1231, miR-6799-5p is hsa-miR-6799-5p, miR-615-5p is hsa-miR-615-5p, miR-4450 is hsa-miR-4450, miR-6726-5p is hsa-miR-6726-5p, miR-6875-5p is hsa-miR-6875-5p, miR-4734 is hsa-miR-4734, miR-16-5p is hsa-miR-16-5p, miR-602 is hsa-miR-602, miR-4651 is hsa-miR-4651, miR-8069 is hsa-miR-8069, miR-1238-5p is hsa-miR-1238-5p, miR-6880-5p is hsa-miR-6880-5p, miR-8072 is hsa-miR-8072, miR-4723-5p is hsa-miR-4723-5p, miR-4732-5p is hsa-miR-4732-5p, miR-6125 is hsa-miR-6125, miR-6090 is hsa-miR-6090, miR-7114-5p is hsa-miR-7114-5p, miR-564 is hsa-miR-564, miR-451a is hsa-miR-451a, miR-3135b is hsa-miR-3135b, miR-4497 is hsa-miR-4497, miR-4665-5p is hsa-miR-4665-5p, miR-3622a-5p is hsa-miR-3622a-5p, miR-6850-5p is hsa-miR-6850-5p, miR-6821-5p is hsa-miR-6821-5p, miR-5100 is hsa-miR-5100, miR-6872-3p is hsa-miR-6872-3p, miR-4433-3p is hsa-miR-4433-3p, miR-1227-5p is hsa-miR-1227-5p, miR-3188 is hsa-miR-3188, miR-7704 is hsa-miR-7704, miR-3185 is hsa-miR-3185, miR-1908-3p is hsa-miR-1908-3p, miR-6781-5p is hsa-miR-6781-5p, miR-6805-5p is hsa-miR-6805-5p, miR-8089 is hsa-miR-8089, miR-665 is hsa-miR-665, miR-4486 is hsa-miR-4486, miR-6722-3p is hsa-miR-6722-3p, miR-1260a is hsa-miR-1260a, miR-4707-5p is hsa-miR-4707-5p, miR-6741-5p is hsa-miR-6741-5p, miR-1260b is hsa-miR-1260b, miR-1246 is hsa-miR-1246, miR-6845-5p is hsa-miR-6845-5p, miR-4638-5p is hsa-miR-4638-5p, miR-6085 is hsa-miR-6085, miR-1228-3p is hsa-miR-1228-3p, miR-4534 is hsa-miR-4534, miR-5585-3p is hsa-miR-5585-3p, miR-4741 is hsa-miR-4741, miR-4433b-3p is hsa-miR-4433b-3p, miR-197-5p is hsa-miR-197-5p, miR-718 is hsa-miR-718, miR-4513 is hsa-miR-4513, miR-4446-3p is hsa-miR-4446-3p, miR-619-5p is hsa-miR-619-5p, miR-6816-5p is hsa-miR-6816-5p, miR-6778-5p is hsa-miR-6778-5p, miR-24-3p is hsa-miR-24-3p, miR-1915-3p is hsa-miR-1915-3p, miR-4665-3p is hsa-miR-4665-3p, miR-4449 is hsa-miR-4449, miR-6889-5p is hsa-miR-6889-5p, miR-486-3p is hsa-miR-486-3p, miR-7113-3p is hsa-miR-7113-3p, miR-642a-3p is hsa-miR-642a-3p, miR-7847-3p is hsa-miR-7847-3p, miR-6768-5p is hsa-miR-6768-5p, miR-1290 is hsa-miR-1290, miR-7108-5p is hsa-miR-7108-5p, miR-92b-5p is hsa-miR-92b-5p, miR-663b is hsa-miR-663b, miR-3940-5p is hsa-miR-3940-5p, miR-4467 is hsa-miR-4467, miR-6858-5p is hsa-miR-6858-5p, miR-4417 is hsa-miR-4417, miR-3665 is hsa-miR-3665, miR-4736 is hsa-miR-4736, miR-4687-3p is hsa-miR-4687-3p, miR-1908-5p is hsa-miR-1908-5p, miR-5195-3p is hsa-miR-5195-3p, miR-4286 is hsa-miR-4286, miR-3679-3p is hsa-miR-3679-3p, miR-6791-5p is hsa-miR-6791-5p, miR-1202 is hsa-miR-1202, miR-3656 is hsa-miR-3656, miR-4746-3p is hsa-miR-4746-3p, miR-3184-5p is hsa-miR-3184-5p, miR-3937 is hsa-miR-3937, miR-6515-3p is hsa-miR-6515-3p, miR-6132 is hsa-miR-6132, miR-187-5p is hsa-miR-187-5p, miR-7111-5p is hsa-miR-7111-5p, miR-5787 is hsa-miR-5787, miR-6779-5p is hsa-miR-6779-5p, miR-4516 is hsa-miR-4516, miR-4649-5p is hsa-miR-4649-5p, miR-760 is hsa-miR-760, miR-3162-5p is hsa-miR-3162-5p, miR-3178 is hsa-miR-3178, miR-940 is hsa-miR-940, miR-4271 is hsa-miR-4271, miR-6769b-5p is hsa-miR-6769b-5p, miR-4508 is hsa-miR-4508, miR-6826-5p is hsa-miR-6826-5p, miR-6757-5p is hsa-miR-6757-5p, miR-3131 is hsa-miR-3131, and miR-1343-3p is hsa-miR-1343-3p.

(3) The kit according to (1) or (2), wherein the nucleic acid is a polynucleotide selected from the group consisting of the following polynucleotides (a) to (e):

(a) a polynucleotide consisting of a nucleotide sequence represented by any of SEQ ID NOs: 1 to 125 and 466 to 478 or a nucleotide sequence derived from the nucleotide sequence by the replacement of u with t, a variant thereof, a derivative thereof, or a fragment thereof comprising 15 or more consecutive nucleotides, (b) a polynucleotide comprising a nucleotide sequence represented by any of SEQ ID NOs: 1 to 125 and 466 to 478, (c) a polynucleotide consisting of a nucleotide sequence complementary to a nucleotide sequence represented by any of SEQ ID NOs: 1 to 125 and 466 to 478 or a nucleotide sequence derived from the nucleotide sequence by the replacement of u with t, a variant thereof, a derivative thereof, or a fragment thereof comprising 15 or more consecutive nucleotides, (d) a polynucleotide comprising a nucleotide sequence complementary to a nucleotide sequence represented by any of SEQ ID NOs: 1 to 125 and 466 to 478 or a nucleotide sequence derived from the nucleotide sequence by the replacement of u with t, and (e) a polynucleotide hybridizing under stringent conditions to any of the polynucleotides (a) to (d).

(4) The kit according to any one of (1) to (3), wherein the kit further comprises nucleic acid(s) capable of specifically binding to at least one or more polynucleotide(s) selected from the group consisting of other biliary tract cancer markers: miR-6808-5p, miR-6774-5p, miR-4656, miR-6806-5p, miR-1233-5p, miR-328-5p, miR-4674, miR-2110, miR-6076, miR-3619-3p, miR-92a-2-5p, miR-128-1-5p, miR-638, miR-2861, miR-371a-5p, miR-211-3p, miR-1273g-3p, miR-1203, miR-122-5p, miR-4258, miR-4484, miR-4648 and miR-6780b-5p.

(5) The kit according to (4), wherein miR-6808-5p is hsa-miR-6808-5p, miR-6774-5p is hsa-miR-6774-5p, miR-4656 is hsa-miR-4656, miR-6806-5p is hsa-miR-6806-5p, miR-1233-5p is hsa-miR-1233-5p, miR-328-5p is hsa-miR-328-5p, miR-4674 is hsa-miR-4674, miR-2110 is hsa-miR-2110, miR-6076 is hsa-miR-6076, miR-3619-3p is hsa-miR-3619-3p, miR-92a-2-5p is hsa-miR-92a-2-5p, miR-128-1-5p is hsa-miR-128-1-5p, miR-638 is hsa-miR-638, miR-2861 is hsa-miR-2861, miR-371a-5p is hsa-miR-371a-5p, miR-211-3p is hsa-miR-211-3p, miR-1273g-3p is hsa-miR-1273g-3p, miR-1203 is hsa-miR-1203, miR-122-5p is hsa-miR-122-5p, miR-4258 is hsa-miR-4258, miR-4484 is hsa-miR-4484, miR-4648 is hsa-miR-4648, and miR-6780b-5p is hsa-miR-6780b-5p.

(6) The kit according to (4) or (5), wherein the nucleic acid is a polynucleotide selected from the group consisting of the following polynucleotides (f) to (j):

(f) a polynucleotide consisting of a nucleotide sequence represented by any of SEQ ID NOs: 126 to 148 or a nucleotide sequence derived from the nucleotide sequence by the replacement of u with t, a variant thereof, a derivative thereof, or a fragment thereof comprising 15 or more consecutive nucleotides, (g) a polynucleotide comprising a nucleotide sequence represented by any of SEQ ID NOs: 126 to 148, (h) a polynucleotide consisting of a nucleotide sequence complementary to a nucleotide sequence represented by any of SEQ ID NOs: 126 to 148 or a nucleotide sequence derived from the nucleotide sequence by the replacement of u with t, a variant thereof, a derivative thereof, or a fragment thereof comprising 15 or more consecutive nucleotides, (i) a polynucleotide comprising a nucleotide sequence complementary to a nucleotide sequence represented by any of SEQ ID NOs: 126 to 148 or a nucleotide sequence derived from the nucleotide sequence by the replacement of u with t, and (j) a polynucleotide hybridizing under stringent conditions to any of the polynucleotides (f) to (i).

(7) The kit according to any one of (1) to (6), wherein the kit comprises at least two or more nucleic acids capable of specifically binding to at least two or more polynucleotides, respectively, selected from all of the biliary tract cancer markers according to (1) or (2).

(8) A device for the detection of biliary tract cancer, comprising nucleic acid(s) capable of specifically binding to at least one or more polynucleotide(s) selected from the group consisting of biliary tract cancer markers miR-125a-3p, miR-6893-5p, miR-204-3p, miR-4476, miR-4294, miR-150-3p, miR-6729-5p, miR-7641, miR-6765-3p, miR-6820-5p, miR-575, miR-6836-3p, miR-1469, miR-663a, miR-6075, miR-4634, miR-423-5p, miR-4454, miR-7109-5p, miR-6789-5p, miR-6877-5p, miR-4792, miR-4530, miR-7975, miR-6724-5p, miR-8073, miR-7977, miR-1231, miR-6799-5p, miR-615-5p, miR-4450, miR-6726-5p, miR-6875-5p, miR-4734, miR-16-5p, miR-602, miR-4651, miR-8069, miR-1238-5p, miR-6880-5p, miR-8072, miR-4723-5p, miR-4732-5p, miR-6125, miR-6090, miR-7114-5p, miR-564, miR-451a, miR-3135b, miR-4497, miR-4665-5p, miR-3622a-5p, miR-6850-5p, miR-6821-5p, miR-5100, miR-6872-3p, miR-4433-3p, miR-1227-5p, miR-3188, miR-7704, miR-3185, miR-1908-3p, miR-6781-5p, miR-6805-5p, miR-8089, miR-665, miR-4486, miR-6722-3p, miR-1260a, miR-4707-5p, miR-6741-5p, miR-1260b, miR-1246, miR-6845-5p, miR-4638-5p, miR-6085, miR-1228-3p, miR-4534, miR-5585-3p, miR-4741, miR-4433b-3p, miR-197-5p, miR-718, miR-4513, miR-4446-3p, miR-619-5p, miR-6816-5p, miR-6778-5p, miR-24-3p, miR-1915-3p, miR-4665-3p, miR-4449, miR-6889-5p, miR-486-3p, miR-7113-3p, miR-642a-3p, miR-7847-3p, miR-6768-5p, miR-1290, miR-7108-5p, miR-92b-5p, miR-663b, miR-3940-5p, miR-4467, miR-6858-5p, miR-4417, miR-3665, miR-4736, miR-4687-3p, miR-1908-5p, miR-5195-3p, miR-4286, miR-3679-3p, miR-6791-5p, miR-1202, miR-3656, miR-4746-3p, miR-3184-5p, miR-3937, miR-6515-3p, miR-6132, miR-187-5p, miR-7111-5p, miR-5787, miR-6779-5p, miR-4516, miR-4649-5p, miR-760, miR-3162-5p, miR-3178, miR-940, miR-4271, miR-6769b-5p, miR-4508, miR-6826-5p, miR-6757-5p, miR-3131, and miR-1343-3p.

(9) The device according to (8), wherein miR-125a-3p is hsa-miR-125a-3p, miR-6893-5p is hsa-miR-6893-5p, miR-204-3p is hsa-miR-204-3p, miR-4476 is hsa-miR-4476, miR-4294 is hsa-miR-4294, miR-150-3p is hsa-miR-150-3p, miR-6729-5p is hsa-miR-6729-5p, miR-7641 is hsa-miR-7641, miR-6765-3p is hsa-miR-6765-3p, miR-6820-5p is hsa-miR-6820-5p, miR-575 is hsa-miR-575, miR-6836-3p is hsa-miR-6836-3p, miR-1469 is hsa-miR-1469, miR-663a is hsa-miR-663a, miR-6075 is hsa-miR-6075, miR-4634 is hsa-miR-4634, miR-423-5p is hsa-miR-423-5p, miR-4454 is hsa-miR-4454, miR-7109-5p is hsa-miR-7109-5p, miR-6789-5p is hsa-miR-6789-5p, miR-6877-5p is hsa-miR-6877-5p, miR-4792 is hsa-miR-4792, miR-4530 is hsa-miR-4530, miR-7975 is hsa-miR-7975, miR-6724-5p is hsa-miR-6724-5p, miR-8073 is hsa-miR-8073, miR-7977 is hsa-miR-7977, miR-1231 is hsa-miR-1231, miR-6799-5p is hsa-miR-6799-5p, miR-615-5p is hsa-miR-615-5p, miR-4450 is hsa-miR-4450, miR-6726-5p is hsa-miR-6726-5p, miR-6875-5p is hsa-miR-6875-5p, miR-4734 is hsa-miR-4734, miR-16-5p is hsa-miR-16-5p, miR-602 is hsa-miR-602, miR-4651 is hsa-miR-4651, miR-8069 is hsa-miR-8069, miR-1238-5p is hsa-miR-1238-5p, miR-6880-5p is hsa-miR-6880-5p, miR-8072 is hsa-miR-8072, miR-4723-5p is hsa-miR-4723-5p, miR-4732-5p is hsa-miR-4732-5p, miR-6125 is hsa-miR-6125, miR-6090 is hsa-miR-6090, miR-7114-5p is hsa-miR-7114-5p, miR-564 is hsa-miR-564, miR-451a is hsa-miR-451a, miR-3135b is hsa-miR-3135b, miR-4497 is hsa-miR-4497, miR-4665-5p is hsa-miR-4665-5p, miR-3622a-5p is hsa-miR-3622a-5p, miR-6850-5p is hsa-miR-6850-5p, miR-6821-5p is hsa-miR-6821-5p, miR-5100 is hsa-miR-5100, miR-6872-3p is hsa-miR-6872-3p, miR-4433-3p is hsa-miR-4433-3p, miR-1227-5p is hsa-miR-1227-5p, miR-3188 is hsa-miR-3188, miR-7704 is hsa-miR-7704, miR-3185 is hsa-miR-3185, miR-1908-3p is hsa-miR-1908-3p, miR-6781-5p is hsa-miR-6781-5p, miR-6805-5p is hsa-miR-6805-5p, miR-8089 is hsa-miR-8089, miR-665 is hsa-miR-665, miR-4486 is hsa-miR-4486, miR-6722-3p is hsa-miR-6722-3p, miR-1260a is hsa-miR-1260a, miR-4707-5p is hsa-miR-4707-5p, miR-6741-5p is hsa-miR-6741-5p, miR-1260b is hsa-miR-1260b, miR-1246 is hsa-miR-1246, miR-6845-5p is hsa-miR-6845-5p, miR-4638-5p is hsa-miR-4638-5p, miR-6085 is hsa-miR-6085, miR-1228-3p is hsa-miR-1228-3p, miR-4534 is hsa-miR-4534, miR-5585-3p is hsa-miR-5585-3p, miR-4741 is hsa-miR-4741, miR-4433b-3p is hsa-miR-4433b-3p, miR-197-5p is hsa-miR-197-5p, miR-718 is hsa-miR-718, miR-4513 is hsa-miR-4513, miR-4446-3p is hsa-miR-4446-3p, miR-619-5p is hsa-miR-619-5p, miR-6816-5p is hsa-miR-6816-5p, miR-6778-5p is hsa-miR-6778-5p, miR-24-3p is hsa-miR-24-3p, miR-1915-3p is hsa-miR-1915-3p, miR-4665-3p is hsa-miR-4665-3p, miR-4449 is hsa-miR-4449, miR-6889-5p is hsa-miR-6889-5p, miR-486-3p is hsa-miR-486-3p, miR-7113-3p is hsa-miR-7113-3p, miR-642a-3p is hsa-miR-642a-3p, miR-7847-3p is hsa-miR-7847-3p, miR-6768-5p is hsa-miR-6768-5p, miR-1290 is hsa-miR-1290, miR-7108-5p is hsa-miR-7108-5p, miR-92b-5p is hsa-miR-92b-5p, miR-663b is hsa-miR-663b, miR-3940-5p is hsa-miR-3940-5p, miR-4467 is hsa-miR-4467, miR-6858-5p is hsa-miR-6858-5p, miR-4417 is hsa-miR-4417, miR-3665 is hsa-miR-3665, miR-4736 is hsa-miR-4736, miR-4687-3p is hsa-miR-4687-3p, miR-1908-5p is hsa-miR-1908-5p, miR-5195-3p is hsa-miR-5195-3p, miR-4286 is hsa-miR-4286, miR-3679-3p is hsa-miR-3679-3p, miR-6791-5p is hsa-miR-6791-5p, miR-1202 is hsa-miR-1202, miR-3656 is hsa-miR-3656, miR-4746-3p is hsa-miR-4746-3p, miR-3184-5p is hsa-miR-3184-5p, miR-3937 is hsa-miR-3937, miR-6515-3p is hsa-miR-6515-3p, miR-6132 is hsa-miR-6132, miR-187-5p is hsa-miR-187-5p, miR-7111-5p is hsa-miR-7111-5p, miR-5787 is hsa-miR-5787, miR-6779-5p is hsa-miR-6779-5p, miR-4516 is hsa-miR-4516, miR-4649-5p is hsa-miR-4649-5p, miR-760 is hsa-miR-760, miR-3162-5p is hsa-miR-3162-5p, miR-3178 is hsa-miR-3178, miR-940 is hsa-miR-940, miR-4271 is hsa-miR-4271, miR-6769b-5p is hsa-miR-6769b-5p, miR-4508 is hsa-miR-4508, miR-6826-5p is hsa-miR-6826-5p, miR-6757-5p is hsa-miR-6757-5p, miR-3131 is hsa-miR-3131, and miR-1343-3p is hsa-miR-1343-3p.

(10) The device according to (8) or (9), wherein the nucleic acid is a polynucleotide selected from the group consisting of the following polynucleotides (a) to (e):

(a) a polynucleotide consisting of a nucleotide sequence represented by any of SEQ ID NOs: 1 to 125 and 466 to 478 or a nucleotide sequence derived from the nucleotide sequence by the replacement of u with t, a variant thereof, a derivative thereof, or a fragment thereof comprising 15 or more consecutive nucleotides, (b) a polynucleotide comprising a nucleotide sequence represented by any of SEQ ID NOs: 1 to 125 and 466 to 478, (c) a polynucleotide consisting of a nucleotide sequence complementary to a nucleotide sequence represented by any of SEQ ID NOs: 1 to 125 and 466 to 478 or a nucleotide sequence derived from the nucleotide sequence by the replacement of u with t, a variant thereof, a derivative thereof, or a fragment thereof comprising 15 or more consecutive nucleotides, (d) a polynucleotide comprising a nucleotide sequence complementary to a nucleotide sequence represented by any of SEQ ID NOs: 1 to 125 and 466 to 478 or a nucleotide sequence derived from the nucleotide sequence by the replacement of u with t, and (e) a polynucleotide hybridizing under stringent conditions to any of the polynucleotides (a) to (d).

(11) The device according to any one of (8) to (10), wherein the device further comprises nucleic acid(s) capable of specifically binding to at least one or more polynucleotide(s) selected from the group consisting of other biliary tract cancer markers miR-6808-5p, miR-6774-5p, miR-4656, miR-6806-5p, miR-1233-5p, miR-328-5p, miR-4674, miR-2110, miR-6076, miR-3619-3p, miR-92a-2-5p, miR-128-1-5p, miR-638, miR-2861, miR-371a-5p, miR-211-3p, miR-1273g-3p, miR-1203, miR-122-5p, miR-4258, miR-4484, miR-4648 and miR-6780b-5p.

(12) The device according to (11), wherein miR-6808-5p is hsa-miR-6808-5p, miR-6774-5p is hsa-miR-6774-5p, miR-4656 is hsa-miR-4656, miR-6806-5p is hsa-miR-6806-5p, miR-1233-5p is hsa-miR-1233-5p, miR-328-5p is hsa-miR-328-5p, miR-4674 is hsa-miR-4674, miR-2110 is hsa-miR-2110, miR-6076 is hsa-miR-6076, miR-3619-3p is hsa-miR-3619-3p, miR-92a-2-5p is hsa-miR-92a-2-5p, miR-128-1-5p is hsa-miR-128-1-5p, miR-638 is hsa-miR-638, miR-2861 is hsa-miR-2861, miR-371a-5p is hsa-miR-371a-5p, miR-211-3p is hsa-miR-211-3p, miR-1273g-3p is hsa-miR-1273g-3p, miR-1203 is hsa-miR-1203, miR-122-5p is hsa-miR-122-5p, miR-4258 is hsa-miR-4258, miR-4484 is hsa-miR-4484, miR-4648 is hsa-miR-4648, and miR-6780b-5p is hsa-miR-6780b-5p.

(13) The device according to (11) or (12), wherein the nucleic acid is a polynucleotide selected from the group consisting of the following polynucleotides (f) to (j):

(f) a polynucleotide consisting of a nucleotide sequence represented by any of SEQ ID NOs: 126 to 148 or a nucleotide sequence derived from the nucleotide sequence by the replacement of u with t, a variant thereof, a derivative thereof, or a fragment thereof comprising 15 or more consecutive nucleotides, (g) a polynucleotide comprising a nucleotide sequence represented by any of SEQ ID NOs: 126 to 148, (h) a polynucleotide consisting of a nucleotide sequence complementary to a nucleotide sequence represented by any of SEQ ID NOs: 126 to 148 or a nucleotide sequence derived from the nucleotide sequence by the replacement of u with t, a variant thereof, a derivative thereof, or a fragment thereof comprising 15 or more consecutive nucleotides, (i) a polynucleotide comprising a nucleotide sequence complementary to a nucleotide sequence represented by any of SEQ ID NOs: 126 to 148 or a nucleotide sequence derived from the nucleotide sequence by the replacement of u with t, and (j) a polynucleotide hybridizing under stringent conditions to any of the polynucleotides (f) to (i).

(14) The device according to any one of (8) to (13), wherein the device is for measurement based on a hybridization technique.

(15) The device according to (14), wherein the hybridization technique is a nucleic acid array technique.

(16) The device according to any one of (8) to (15), wherein the device comprises at least two or more nucleic acids capable of specifically binding to at least two or more polynucleotides, respectively, selected from all of the biliary tract cancer markers according to (8) or (9).

(17) A method for detecting biliary tract cancer, comprising measuring an expression level of a target nucleic acid in a sample of a subject using the kit according to any one of (1) to (7) or the device according to any one of (8) to (16); and evaluating in vitro whether or not the subject has biliary tract cancer using the measured expression level and a control expression level for a healthy subject measured in the same way.

(18) The method according to (17), wherein the subject is a human.

(19) The method according to (17) or (18), wherein the sample is blood, serum, or plasma.

Definition of Term

The terms used herein are defined as follows.

The term “biliary tract cancer” used herein refers to any malignant tumor formed in the biliary tract. Specifically, the “biliary tract cancer” includes extrahepatic bile duct cancer, gallbladder cancer, papillary cancer, duodenal papilla cancer, intrahepatic bile duct cancer, and the like.

The term “benign tumors and/or benign diseases of the biliary tract and/or peribiliary organs” used herein refers to diseases with nonmalignant tumors in the biliary tract, the liver, and the pancreas.

Abbreviations or terms such as nucleotide, polynucleotide, DNA, and RNA abide by “Guidelines for the preparation of specification which contain nucleotide and/or amino acid sequences” (edited by Japan Patent Office) and common use in the art.

The term “polynucleotide” used herein refers to a nucleic acid, including any of RNA, DNA, and RNA/DNA (chimera). The DNA includes any of cDNA, genomic DNA, and synthetic DNA. The RNA includes all of total RNA, mRNA, rRNA, miRNA, siRNA, snoRNA, snRNA, non-coding RNA and synthetic RNA. The “synthetic DNA” and the “synthetic RNA” used herein refer to DNA and RNA artificially prepared using, for example, an automated nucleic acid synthesizer, on the basis of predetermined nucleotide sequences (which may be any of natural and non-natural sequences). The “non-natural sequence” used herein is intended to be used in a broad sense and includes, for example, a sequence containing substitution, deletion, insertion, and/or addition of one or more nucleotide(s) (i.e., a variant sequence) and a sequence containing one or more modified nucleotide(s) (i.e., a modified sequence), which are different from the natural sequence. As used herein, the term “polynucleotide” is used interchangeably with the term “nucleic acid.”

The term “fragment” used herein is a polynucleotide having a nucleotide sequence having a consecutive portion of a polynucleotide and desirably has a length of 15 or more nucleotides, preferably 17 or more nucleotides, more preferably 19 or more nucleotides.

The term “gene” used herein is intended to include not only RNA and double-stranded DNA but also each single-stranded DNA such as a plus strand (or a sense strand) or a complementary strand (or an antisense strand) constituting the duplex. The gene is not particularly limited by its length.

Thus, the “gene” used herein includes all of double-stranded DNA including human genomic DNA, single-stranded DNA (plus strand), single-stranded DNA that has a sequence complementary to the plus strand (complementary strand) including cDNA, microRNA (miRNA), and their fragments, and transcripts, unless otherwise specified. The “gene” includes not only a “gene” represented by a particular nucleotide sequence (or SEQ ID NO) but “nucleic acids” that encode RNAs that have biological functions equivalent to RNA encoded by the gene, for example, a congener (i.e., a homolog or an ortholog), a variant (e.g., a genetic polymorph), and a derivative. Specific examples of such a “nucleic acid” encoding a congener, a variant, or a derivative can include a “nucleic acid” that has a nucleotide sequence that hybridizes under stringent conditions described later to a complementary sequence of a nucleotide sequence represented by any of SEQ ID NOs: 1 to 509 or a nucleotide sequence derived from the nucleotide sequence by the replacement of u with t. The “gene” is not particularly limited by its functional region and can contain, for example, an expression regulatory region, a coding region, an exon, or an intron. The “gene” may be contained in a cell or may exist alone after being released into the outside of a cell. Alternatively, the “gene” may be in a state enclosed in a vesicle called exosome.

The term “exosome” used herein is a vesicle that is encapsulated by a lipid bilayer and secreted from a cell. The exosome is derived from a multivesicular endosome and may incorporate a biomaterial such as a “gene” (e.g., RNA or DNA) or a protein when released into an extracellular environment. The exosome is known to be contained in a body fluid such as blood, serum, plasma, serum, or lymph.

The term “transcript” used herein refers to RNA synthesized from the DNA sequence of a gene as a template. RNA polymerase binds to a site called a promoter located upstream of the gene and adds ribonucleotides complementary to the nucleotide sequence of the DNA to the 3′ end to synthesize an RNA. This RNA contains not only the gene itself but also the whole sequence from a transcription initiation site to the end of a polyA sequence, including an expression regulatory region, a coding region, an exon, or an intron.

The term “microRNA (miRNA)” used herein is intended to mean a 15- to 25-nucleotide non-coding RNA that is transcribed as an RNA precursor having a hairpin-like structure, cleaved by a dsRNA-cleaving enzyme which has RNase III cleavage activity, integrated into a protein complex called RISC, and involved in the suppression of translation of mRNA, unless otherwise specified. The term “miRNA” used herein includes not only a “miRNA” represented by a particular nucleotide sequence (or SEQ ID NO) but a precursor of the “miRNA” (pre-miRNA or pri-miRNA), and miRNAs that have biological functions equivalent thereto, for example, a congener (i.e., a homolog or an ortholog), a variant (e.g., a genetic polymorph), and a derivative. Such a precursor, a congener, a variant, or a derivative can be specifically identified using miRBase Release 20 (http://www.mirbase.org/), and examples thereof can include a “miRNA” that has a nucleotide sequence that hybridizes under stringent conditions described later to a complementary sequence of any particular nucleotide sequence represented by any of SEQ ID NOs: 1 to 509. The term “miRNA” used herein may be a gene product of a miR gene. Such a gene product includes a mature miRNA (e.g., a 15- to 25-nucleotide or 19- to 25-nucleotide non-coding RNA involved in the suppression of translation of mRNA as described above) or a miRNA precursor (e.g., pre-miRNA or pri-miRNA as described above).

The term “probe” used herein includes a polynucleotide that is used for specifically detecting an RNA that results from the expression of a gene, or a polynucleotide derived from the RNA, and/or a polynucleotide complementary thereto.

The term “primer” used herein includes a polynucleotide that specifically recognizes and amplifies an RNA that results from the expression of a gene or a polynucleotide derived from the RNA, and/or a polynucleotide complementary thereto.

In this context, the complementary polynucleotide (complementary strand or reverse strand) means a polynucleotide in a complementary relationship of A:T (U) and G:C base pairs with the full-length sequence of a polynucleotide consisting of a nucleotide sequence defined by any of SEQ ID NOs: 1 to 509 or a nucleotide sequence derived from the nucleotide sequence by the replacement of u with t, or a partial sequence thereof (here, this full-length or partial sequence is referred to as a plus strand for the sake of convenience). However, such a complementary strand is not limited to a sequence completely complementary to the nucleotide sequence of the target plus strand and may have a complementary relationship to an extent that permits hybridization under stringent conditions to the target plus strand.

The term “stringent conditions” used herein refers to conditions under which a nucleic acid probe hybridizes to its target sequence to a larger extent (e.g., a measurement value equal to or larger than a mean of background measurement values+a standard deviation of the background measurement values×2) than that for other sequences. The stringent conditions are dependent on a sequence and differ depending on an environment where hybridization is performed. A target sequence complementary 100% to the nucleic acid probe can be identified by controlling the stringency of hybridization and/or washing conditions. Specific examples of the “stringent conditions” are mentioned later.

The term “Tm value” used herein means a temperature at which the double-stranded moiety of a polynucleotide is denatured into single strands so that the double strands and the single strands exist at a ratio of 1:1.

The term “variant” used herein means, in the case of a nucleic acid, a natural variant attributed to polymorphism, mutation, or the like; a variant containing the deletion, substitution, addition, or insertion of 1 or 2 or more nucleotides in a nucleotide sequence represented by any of SEQ ID NOs: 1 to 509, or a nucleotide sequence derived from the nucleotide sequence by the replacement of u with t, or a partial sequence thereof; a variant that exhibits percent (%) identity of approximately 90% or higher, approximately 95% or higher, approximately 97% or higher, approximately 98% or higher, approximately 99% or higher to each of these nucleotide sequences or the partial sequences thereof; or a nucleic acid that hybridizes under the stringent conditions defined above to a polynucleotide or an oligonucleotide comprising each of these nucleotide sequences or the partial sequence thereof.

The term “several” used herein means an integer of approximately 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, or 2.

The variant used herein can be prepared by use of a well-known technique such as site-directed mutagenesis or PCR-based mutagenesis.

The term “percent (%) identity” used herein can be determined with or without an introduced gap, using a protein or gene search system based on BLAST or FASTA described above (Zheng Zhang et al., 2000, J. Comput. Biol., Vol. 7, p. 203-214; Altschul, S. F. et al., 1990, Journal of Molecular Biology, Vol. 215, p. 403-410; and Pearson, W. R. et al., 1988, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A., Vol. 85, p. 2444-2448).

The term “derivative” used herein is meant to include a modified nucleic acid, for example, a derivative labeled with a fluorophore or the like, a derivative containing a modified nucleotide (e.g., a nucleotide containing a group such as halogen, alkyl such as methyl, alkoxy such as methoxy, thio, or carboxymethyl, and a nucleotide that has undergone base rearrangement, double bond saturation, deamination, replacement of an oxygen molecule with a sulfur atom, etc.), PNA (peptide nucleic acid; Nielsen, P. E. et al., 1991, Science, Vol. 254, p. 1497-500), and LNA (locked nucleic acid; Obika, S. et al., 1998, Tetrahedron Left., Vol. 39, p. 5401-5404) without any limitation.

As used herein, the “nucleic acid” capable of specifically binding to a polynucleotide selected from the biliary tract cancer marker miRNA group described above is a synthesized or prepared nucleic acid and specifically includes a “nucleic acid probe” or a “primer”. The “nucleic acid” is utilized directly or indirectly for detecting the presence or absence of biliary tract cancer in a subject, for diagnosing the presence or absence of biliary tract cancer, or the severity of biliary tract cancer, the presence or absence of amelioration or the degree of amelioration of biliary tract cancer, or the therapeutic sensitivity of biliary tract cancer, or for screening for a candidate substance useful in the prevention, amelioration, or treatment of biliary tract cancer. The “nucleic acid” includes a nucleotide, an oligonucleotide, and a polynucleotide capable of specifically recognizing and binding to a transcript represented by any of SEQ ID NOs: 1 to 509 or a synthetic cDNA nucleic acid thereof in vivo, particularly, in a sample such as a body fluid (e.g., blood or urine), in relation to the development of biliary tract cancer. The nucleotide, the oligonucleotide, and the polynucleotide can be effectively used as probes for detecting the aforementioned gene expressed in vivo, in tissues, in cells, or the like on the basis of the properties described above, or as primers for amplifying the aforementioned gene expressed in vivo.

The term “detection” used herein is interchangeable with the term “examination”, “measurement”, “detection” or “decision support”. The term “evaluation” used herein is meant to include diagnosis or evaluation support on the basis of examination results or measurement results.

The term “subject” used herein means a mammal such as a primate including a human and a chimpanzee, a pet animal including a dog and a cat, a livestock animal including cattle, a horse, sheep, and a goat, and a rodent including a mouse and a rat. The term “healthy subject” also means such a mammal without the cancer to be detected.

The term “P” or “P value” used herein refers to a probability at which a more extreme statistic than that is actually calculated from data under a null hypothesis is observed in a statistical test. Thus, smaller “P” or “P value” is regarded as being more significant difference between subjects to be compared.

The term “sensitivity” used herein means a value of (the number of true positives)/(the number of true positives+the number of false negatives). High sensitivity allows biliary tract cancer to be detected early, leading to the complete resection of cancer sites and reduction in the rate of recurrence.

The term “specificity” used herein means a value of (the number of true negatives)/(the number of true negatives+the number of false positives). High specificity prevents needless extra examination for healthy subjects misjudged as being biliary tract cancer patients, leading to reduction in burden on patients and reduction in medical expense.

The term “accuracy” used herein means a value of (the number of true positives+the number of true negatives)/(the total number of cases). The accuracy indicates the ratio of samples that are correctly identified in the discriminant results to all samples, and serves as a primary index for evaluating detection performance.

As used herein, the “sample” that is subject to determination, detection, or diagnosis refers to a tissue and a biological material in which the expression of the gene of the present invention varies as biliary tract cancer develops, as biliary tract cancer progresses, or as therapeutic effects on biliary tract cancer are exerted. Specifically, the “sample” refers to a biliary tract tissue, a peribiliary vascular channel, lymph node, and organ, an organ suspected of having metastasis, the skin, a body fluid such as blood, urine, saliva, sweat, or tissue exudates, serum or plasma prepared from blood, feces, hair, and the like. The “sample” further refers to a biological sample extracted therefrom, specifically, a gene such as RNA or miRNA.

The term “hsa-miR-125a-3p gene” or “hsa-miR-125a-3p” used herein includes the hsa-miR-125a-3p gene (miRBase Accession No. MIMAT0004602) described in SEQ ID NO: 1, a homolog or an ortholog of a different organism species, and the like. The hsa-miR-125a-3p gene can be obtained by a method described in Lagos-Quintana M et al., 2002, Curr Biol, Vol. 12, p. 735-739. Also, “hsa-mir-125a” (miRBase Accession No. MI0000469, SEQ ID NO: 149) having a hairpin-like structure is known as a precursor of “hsa-miR-125a-3p”.

The term “hsa-miR-6893-5p gene” or “hsa-miR-6893-5p” used herein includes the hsa-miR-6893-5p gene (miRBase Accession No. MIMAT0027686) described in SEQ ID NO: 2, a homolog or an ortholog of a different organism species, and the like. The hsa-miR-6893-5p gene can be obtained by a method described in Ladewig E et al., 2012, Genome Res, Vol. 22, p. 1634-1645. Also, “hsa-mir-6893” (miRBase Accession No. MI0022740, SEQ ID NO: 150) having a hairpin-like structure is known as a precursor of “hsa-miR-6893-5p”.

The term “hsa-miR-204-3p gene” or “hsa-miR-204-3p” used herein includes the hsa-miR-204-3p gene (miRBase Accession No. MIMAT0022693) described in SEQ ID NO: 3, a homolog or an ortholog of a different organism species, and the like. The hsa-miR-204-3p gene can be obtained by a method described in Lim L P et al., 2003, Science, Vol. 299, p. 1540. Also, “hsa-mir-204” (miRBase Accession No. MI0000284, SEQ ID NO: 151) having a hairpin-like structure is known as a precursor of “hsa-miR-204-3p”.

The term “hsa-miR-4476 gene” or “hsa-miR-4476” used herein includes the hsa-miR-4476 gene (miRBase Accession No. MIMAT0019003) described in SEQ ID NO: 4, a homolog or an ortholog of a different organism species, and the like. The hsa-miR-4476 gene can be obtained by a method described in Jima D D et al., 2010, Blood, Vol. 116, e118-e127. Also, “hsa-mir-4476” (miRBase Accession No. MI0016828, SEQ ID NO: 152) having a hairpin-like structure is known as a precursor of “hsa-miR-4476”.

The term “hsa-miR-4294 gene” or “hsa-miR-4294” used herein includes the hsa-miR-4294 gene (miRBase Accession No. MIMAT0016849) described in SEQ ID NO: 5, a homolog or an ortholog of a different organism species, and the like. The hsa-miR-4294 gene can be obtained by a method described in Goff L A et al., 2009, PLoS One, Vol. 4, e7192. Also, “hsa-mir-4294” (miRBase Accession No. MI0015827, SEQ ID NO: 153) having a hairpin-like structure is known as a precursor of “hsa-miR-4294”.

The term “hsa-miR-150-3p gene” or “hsa-miR-150-3p” used herein includes the hsa-miR-150-3p gene (miRBase Accession No. MIMAT0004610) described in SEQ ID NO: 6, a homolog or an ortholog of a different organism species, and the like. The hsa-miR-150-3p gene can be obtained by a method described in Lagos-Quintana M et al., 2002, Curr Biol, Vol. 12, p. 735-739. Also, “hsa-mir-150” (miRBase Accession No. MI0000479, SEQ ID NO: 154) having a hairpin-like structure is known as a precursor of “hsa-miR-150-3p”.

The term “hsa-miR-6729-5p gene” or “hsa-miR-6729-5p” used herein includes the hsa-miR-6729-5p gene (miRBase Accession No. MIMAT0027359) described in SEQ ID NO: 7, a homolog or an ortholog of a different organism species, and the like. The hsa-miR-6729-5p gene can be obtained by a method described in Ladewig E et al., 2012, Genome Res, Vol. 22, p. 1634-1645. Also, “hsa-mir-6729” (miRBase Accession No. MI0022574, SEQ ID NO: 155) having a hairpin-like structure is known as a precursor of “hsa-miR-6729-5p”.

The term “hsa-miR-7641 gene” or “hsa-miR-7641” used herein includes the hsa-miR-7641 gene (miRBase Accession No. MIMAT0029782) described in SEQ ID NO: 8, a homolog or an ortholog of a different organism species, and the like. The hsa-miR-7641 gene can be obtained by a method described in Yoo J K et al., 2013, Arch Pharm Res, Vol. 36, p. 353-358. Also, “hsa-mir-7641-1” and “hsa-mir-7641-2” (miRBase Accession Nos. MI0024975 and MI0024976, SEQ ID NOs: 156 and 157) having a hairpin-like structure are known as a precursor of “hsa-miR-7641”.

The term “hsa-miR-6765-3p gene” or “hsa-miR-6765-3p” used herein includes the hsa-miR-6765-3p gene (miRBase Accession No. MIMAT0027431) described in SEQ ID NO: 9, a homolog or an ortholog of a different organism species, and the like. The hsa-miR-6765-3p gene can be obtained by a method described in Ladewig E et al., 2012, Genome Res, Vol. 22, p. 1634-1645. Also, “hsa-mir-6765” (miRBase Accession No. MI0022610, SEQ ID NO: 158) having a hairpin-like structure is known as a precursor of “hsa-miR-6765-3p”.

The term “hsa-miR-6820-5p gene” or “hsa-miR-6820-5p” used herein includes the hsa-miR-6820-5p gene (miRBase Accession No. MIMAT0027540) described in SEQ ID NO: 10, a homolog or an ortholog of a different organism species, and the like. The hsa-miR-6820-5p gene can be obtained by a method described in Ladewig E et al., 2012, Genome Res, Vol. 22, p. 1634-1645. Also, “hsa-mir-6820” (miRBase Accession No. MI0022665, SEQ ID NO: 159) having a hairpin-like structure is known as a precursor of “hsa-miR-6820-5p”.

The term “hsa-miR-575 gene” or “hsa-miR-575” used herein includes the hsa-miR-575 gene (miRBase Accession No. MIMAT0003240) described in SEQ ID NO: 11, a homolog or an ortholog of a different organism species, and the like. The hsa-miR-575 gene can be obtained by a method described in Cummins J M et al., 2006, Proc Natl Acad Sci USA, Vol. 103, p. 3687-3692. Also, “hsa-mir-575” (miRBase Accession No. MI0003582, SEQ ID NO: 160) having a hairpin-like structure is known as a precursor of “hsa-miR-575”.

The term “hsa-miR-6836-3p gene” or “hsa-miR-6836-3p” used herein includes the hsa-miR-6836-3p gene (miRBase Accession No. MIMAT0027575) described in SEQ ID NO: 12, a homolog or an ortholog of a different organism species, and the like. The hsa-miR-6836-3p gene can be obtained by a method described in Ladewig E et al., 2012, Genome Res, Vol. 22, p. 1634-1645. Also, “hsa-mir-6836” (miRBase Accession No. MI0022682, SEQ ID NO: 161) having a hairpin-like structure is known as a precursor of “hsa-miR-6836-3p”.

The term “hsa-miR-1469 gene” or “hsa-miR-1469” used herein includes the hsa-miR-1469 gene (miRBase Accession No. MIMAT0007347) described in SEQ ID NO: 13, a homolog or an ortholog of a different organism species, and the like. The hsa-miR-1469 gene can be obtained by a method described in Kawaji H et al., 2008, BMC Genomics, Vol. 9, p. 157. Also, “hsa-mir-1469” (miRBase Accession No. MI0007074, SEQ ID NO: 162) having a hairpin-like structure is known as a precursor of “hsa-miR-1469”.

The term “hsa-miR-663a gene” or “hsa-miR-663a” used herein includes the hsa-miR-663a gene (miRBase Accession No. MIMAT0003326) described in SEQ ID NO: 14, a homolog or an ortholog of a different organism species, and the like. The hsa-miR-663a gene can be obtained by a method described in Cummins J M et al., 2006, Proc Natl Acad Sci USA, Vol. 103, p. 3687-3692. Also, “hsa-mir-663a” (miRBase Accession No. MI0003672, SEQ ID NO: 163) having a hairpin-like structure is known as a precursor of “hsa-miR-663a”.

The term “hsa-miR-6075 gene” or “hsa-miR-6075” used herein includes the hsa-miR-6075 gene (miRBase Accession No. MIMAT0023700) described in SEQ ID NO: 15, a homolog or an ortholog of a different organism species, and the like. The hsa-miR-6075 gene can be obtained by a method described in Voellenkle C et al., 2012, RNA, Vol. 18, p. 472-484. Also, “hsa-mir-6075” (miRBase Accession No. MI0020352, SEQ ID NO: 164) having a hairpin-like structure is known as a precursor of “hsa-miR-6075”.

The term “hsa-miR-4634 gene” or “hsa-miR-4634” used herein includes the hsa-miR-4634 gene (miRBase Accession No. MIMAT0019691) described in SEQ ID NO: 16, a homolog or an ortholog of a different organism species, and the like. The hsa-miR-4634 gene can be obtained by a method described in Persson H et al., 2011, Cancer Res, Vol. 71, p. 78-86. Also, “hsa-mir-4634” (miRBase Accession No. MI0017261, SEQ ID NO: 165) having a hairpin-like structure is known as a precursor of “hsa-miR-4634”.

The term “hsa-miR-423-5p gene” or “hsa-miR-423-5p” used herein includes the hsa-miR-423-5p gene (miRBase Accession No. MIMAT0004748) described in SEQ ID NO: 17, a homolog or an ortholog of a different organism species, and the like. The hsa-miR-423-5p gene can be obtained by a method described in Kasashima K et al., 2004, Biochem Biophys Res Commun, Vol. 322, p. 403-410. Also, “hsa-mir-423” (miRBase Accession No. MI0001445, SEQ ID NO: 166) having a hairpin-like structure is known as a precursor of “hsa-miR-423-5p”.

The term “hsa-miR-4454 gene” or “hsa-miR-4454” used herein includes the hsa-miR-4454 gene (miRBase Accession No. MIMAT0018976) described in SEQ ID NO: 18, a homolog or an ortholog of a different organism species, and the like. The hsa-miR-4454 gene can be obtained by a method described in Jima D D et al., 2010, Blood, Vol. 116, e118-e127. Also, “hsa-mir-4454” (miRBase Accession No. MI0016800, SEQ ID NO: 167) having a hairpin-like structure is known as a precursor of “hsa-miR-4454”.

The term “hsa-miR-7109-5p gene” or “hsa-miR-7109-5p” used herein includes the hsa-miR-7109-5p gene (miRBase Accession No. MIMAT0028115) described in SEQ ID NO: 19, a homolog or an ortholog of a different organism species, and the like. The hsa-miR-7109-5p gene can be obtained by a method described in Ladewig E et al., 2012, Genome Res, Vol. 22, p. 1634-1645. Also, “hsa-mir-7109” (miRBase Accession No. MI0022960, SEQ ID NO: 168) having a hairpin-like structure is known as a precursor of “hsa-miR-7109-5p”.

The term “hsa-miR-6789-5p gene” or “hsa-miR-6789-5p” used herein includes the hsa-miR-6789-5p gene (miRBase Accession No. MIMAT0027478) described in SEQ ID NO: 20, a homolog or an ortholog of a different organism species, and the like. The hsa-miR-6789-5p gene can be obtained by a method described in Ladewig E et al., 2012, Genome Res, Vol. 22, p. 1634-1645. Also, “hsa-mir-6789” (miRBase Accession No. MI0022634, SEQ ID NO: 169) having a hairpin-like structure is known as a precursor of “hsa-miR-6789-5p”.

The term “hsa-miR-6877-5p gene” or “hsa-miR-6877-5p” used herein includes the hsa-miR-6877-5p gene (miRBase Accession No. MIMAT0027654) described in SEQ ID NO: 21, a homolog or an ortholog of a different organism species, and the like. The hsa-miR-6877-5p gene can be obtained by a method described in Ladewig E et al., 2012, Genome Res, Vol. 22, p. 1634-1645. Also, “hsa-mir-6877” (miRBase Accession No. MI0022724, SEQ ID NO: 170) having a hairpin-like structure is known as a precursor of “hsa-miR-6877-5p”.

The term “hsa-miR-4792 gene” or “hsa-miR-4792” used herein includes the hsa-miR-4792 gene (miRBase Accession No. MIMAT0019964) described in SEQ ID NO: 22, a homolog or an ortholog of a different organism species, and the like. The hsa-miR-4792 gene can be obtained by a method described in Persson H et al., 2011, Cancer Res, Vol. 71, p. 78-86. Also, “hsa-mir-4792” (miRBase Accession No. MI0017439, SEQ ID NO: 171) having a hairpin-like structure is known as a precursor of “hsa-miR-4792”.

The term “hsa-miR-4530 gene” or “hsa-miR-4530” used herein includes the hsa-miR-4530 gene (miRBase Accession No. MIMAT0019069) described in SEQ ID NO: 23, a homolog or an ortholog of a different organism species, and the like. The hsa-miR-4530 gene can be obtained by a method described in Jima D D et al., 2010, Blood, Vol. 116, e118-e127. Also, “hsa-mir-4530” (miRBase Accession No. MI0016897, SEQ ID NO: 172) having a hairpin-like structure is known as a precursor of “hsa-miR-4530”.

The term “hsa-miR-7975 gene” or “hsa-miR-7975” used herein includes the hsa-miR-7975 gene (miRBase Accession No. MIMAT0031178) described in SEQ ID NO: 24, a homolog or an ortholog of a different organism species, and the like. The hsa-miR-7975 gene can be obtained by a method described in Velthut-Meikas A et al., 2013, Mol Endocrinol, online. Also, “hsa-mir-7975” (miRBase Accession No. MI0025751, SEQ ID NO: 173) having a hairpin-like structure is known as a precursor of “hsa-miR-7975”.

The term “hsa-miR-6724-5p gene” or “hsa-miR-6724-5p” used herein includes the hsa-miR-6724-5p gene (miRBase Accession No. MIMAT0025856) described in SEQ ID NO: 25, a homolog or an ortholog of a different organism species, and the like. The hsa-miR-6724-5p gene can be obtained by a method described in Li Y et al., 2012, Gene, Vol. 497, p. 330-335. Also, “hsa-mir-6724” (miRBase Accession No. MI0022559, SEQ ID NO: 174) having a hairpin-like structure is known as a precursor of “hsa-miR-6724-5p”.

The term “hsa-miR-8073 gene” or “hsa-miR-8073” used herein includes the hsa-miR-8073 gene (miRBase Accession No. MIMAT0031000) described in SEQ ID NO: 26, a homolog or an ortholog of a different organism species, and the like. The hsa-miR-8073 gene can be obtained by a method described in Wang H J et al., 2013, Shock, Vol. 39, p. 480-487. Also, “hsa-mir-8073” (miRBase Accession No. MI0025909, SEQ ID NO: 175) having a hairpin-like structure is known as a precursor of “hsa-miR-8073”.

The term “hsa-miR-7977 gene” or “hsa-miR-7977” used herein includes the hsa-miR-7977 gene (miRBase Accession No. MIMAT0031180) described in SEQ ID NO: 27, a homolog or an ortholog of a different organism species, and the like. The hsa-miR-7977 gene can be obtained by a method described in Velthut-Meikas A et al., 2013, Mol Endocrinol, online. Also, “hsa-mir-7977” (miRBase Accession No. MI0025753, SEQ ID NO: 176) having a hairpin-like structure is known as a precursor of “hsa-miR-7977”.

The term “hsa-miR-1231 gene” or “hsa-miR-1231” used herein includes the hsa-miR-1231 gene (miRBase Accession No. MIMAT0005586) described in SEQ ID NO: 28, a homolog or an ortholog of a different organism species, and the like. The hsa-miR-1231 gene can be obtained by a method described in Berezikov E et al., 2007, Mol Cell, Vol. 28, p. 328-336. Also, “hsa-mir-1231” (miRBase Accession No. MI0006321, SEQ ID NO: 177) having a hairpin-like structure is known as a precursor of “hsa-miR-1231”.

The term “hsa-miR-6799-5p gene” or “hsa-miR-6799-5p” used herein includes the hsa-miR-6799-5p gene (miRBase Accession No. MIMAT0027498) described in SEQ ID NO: 29, a homolog or an ortholog of a different organism species, and the like. The hsa-miR-6799-5p gene can be obtained by a method described in Ladewig E et al., 2012, Genome Res, Vol. 22, p. 1634-1645. Also, “hsa-mir-6799” (miRBase Accession No. MI0022644, SEQ ID NO: 178) having a hairpin-like structure is known as a precursor of “hsa-miR-6799-5p”.

The term “hsa-miR-615-5p gene” or “hsa-miR-615-5p” used herein includes the hsa-miR-615-5p gene (miRBase Accession No. MIMAT0004804) described in SEQ ID NO: 30, a homolog or an ortholog of a different organism species, and the like. The hsa-miR-615-5p gene can be obtained by a method described in Cummins J M et al., 2006, Proc Natl Acad Sci USA, Vol. 103, p. 3687-3692. Also, “hsa-mir-615” (miRBase Accession No. MI0003628, SEQ ID NO: 179) having a hairpin-like structure is known as a precursor of “hsa-miR-615-5p”.

The term “hsa-miR-4450 gene” or “hsa-miR-4450” used herein includes the hsa-miR-4450 gene (miRBase Accession No. MIMAT0018971) described in SEQ ID NO: 31, a homolog or an ortholog of a different organism species, and the like. The hsa-miR-4450 gene can be obtained by a method described in Jima D D et al., 2010, Blood, Vol. 116, e118-e127. Also, “hsa-mir-4450” (miRBase Accession No. MI0016795, SEQ ID NO: 180) having a hairpin-like structure is known as a precursor of “hsa-miR-4450”.

The term “hsa-miR-6726-5p gene” or “hsa-miR-6726-5p” used herein includes the hsa-miR-6726-5p gene (miRBase Accession No. MIMAT0027353) described in SEQ ID NO: 32, a homolog or an ortholog of a different organism species, and the like. The hsa-miR-6726-5p gene can be obtained by a method described in Ladewig E et al., 2012, Genome Res, Vol. 22, p. 1634-1645. Also, “hsa-mir-6726” (miRBase Accession No. MI0022571, SEQ ID NO: 181) having a hairpin-like structure is known as a precursor of “hsa-miR-6726-5p”.

The term “hsa-miR-6875-5p gene” or “hsa-miR-6875-5p” used herein includes the hsa-miR-6875-5p gene (miRBase Accession No. MIMAT0027650) described in SEQ ID NO: 33, a homolog or an ortholog of a different organism species, and the like. The hsa-miR-6875-5p gene can be obtained by a method described in Ladewig E et al., 2012, Genome Res, Vol. 22, p. 1634-1645. Also, “hsa-mir-6875” (miRBase Accession No. MI0022722, SEQ ID NO: 182) having a hairpin-like structure is known as a precursor of “hsa-miR-6875-5p”.

The term “hsa-miR-4734 gene” or “hsa-miR-4734” used herein includes the hsa-miR-4734 gene (miRBase Accession No. MIMAT0019859) described in SEQ ID NO: 34, a homolog or an ortholog of a different organism species, and the like. The hsa-miR-4734 gene can be obtained by a method described in Persson H et al., 2011, Cancer Res, Vol. 71, p. 78-86. Also, “hsa-mir-4734” (miRBase Accession No. MI0017371, SEQ ID NO: 183) having a hairpin-like structure is known as a precursor of “hsa-miR-4734”.

The term “hsa-miR-16-5p gene” or “hsa-miR-16-5p” used herein includes the hsa-miR-16-5p gene (miRBase Accession No. MIMAT0000069) described in SEQ ID NO: 35, a homolog or an ortholog of a different organism species, and the like. The hsa-miR-16-5p gene can be obtained by a method described in Lagos-Quintana M et al., 2001, Science, Vol. 294, p. 853-858. Also, “hsa-mir-16-1” and “hsa-mir-16-2” (miRBase Accession Nos. MI0000070 and MI0000115, SEQ ID NOs: 184 and 185) having a hairpin-like structure are known as precursors of “hsa-miR-16-5p”.

The term “hsa-miR-602 gene” or “hsa-miR-602” used herein includes the hsa-miR-602 gene (miRBase Accession No. MIMAT0003270) described in SEQ ID NO: 36, a homolog or an ortholog of a different organism species, and the like. The hsa-miR-602 gene can be obtained by a method described in Cummins J M et al., 2006, Proc Natl Acad Sci USA, Vol. 103, p. 3687-3692. Also, “hsa-mir-602” (miRBase Accession No. MI0003615, SEQ ID NO: 186) having a hairpin-like structure is known as a precursor of “hsa-miR-602”.

The term “hsa-miR-4651 gene” or “hsa-miR-4651” used herein includes the hsa-miR-4651 gene (miRBase Accession No. MIMAT0019715) described in SEQ ID NO: 37, a homolog or an ortholog of a different organism species, and the like. The hsa-miR-4651 gene can be obtained by a method described in Persson H et al., 2011, Cancer Res, Vol. 71, p. 78-86. Also, “hsa-mir-4651” (miRBase Accession No. MI0017279, SEQ ID NO: 187) having a hairpin-like structure is known as a precursor of “hsa-miR-4651”.

The term “hsa-miR-8069 gene” or “hsa-miR-8069” used herein includes the hsa-miR-8069 gene (miRBase Accession No. MIMAT0030996) described in SEQ ID NO: 38, a homolog or an ortholog of a different organism species, and the like. The hsa-miR-8069 gene can be obtained by a method described in Wang H J et al., 2013, Shock, Vol. 39, p. 480-487. Also, “hsa-mir-8069” (miRBase Accession No. MI0025905, SEQ ID NO: 188) having a hairpin-like structure is known as a precursor of “hsa-miR-8069”.

The term “hsa-miR-1238-5p gene” or “hsa-miR-1238-5p” used herein includes the hsa-miR-1238-5p gene (miRBase Accession No. MIMAT0022947) described in SEQ ID NO: 39, a homolog or an ortholog of a different organism species, and the like. The hsa-miR-1238-5p gene can be obtained by a method described in Berezikov E et al., 2007, Mol Cell, Vol. 28, p. 328-336. Also, “hsa-mir-1238” (miRBase Accession No. MI0006328, SEQ ID NO: 189) having a hairpin-like structure is known as a precursor of “hsa-miR-1238-5p”.

The term “hsa-miR-6880-5p gene” or “hsa-miR-6880-5p” used herein includes the hsa-miR-6880-5p gene (miRBase Accession No. MIMAT0027660) described in SEQ ID NO: 40, a homolog or an ortholog of a different organism species, and the like. The hsa-miR-6880-5p gene can be obtained by a method described in Ladewig E et al., 2012, Genome Res, Vol. 22, p. 1634-1645. Also, “hsa-mir-6880” (miRBase Accession No. MI0022727, SEQ ID NO: 190) having a hairpin-like structure is known as a precursor of “hsa-miR-6880-5p”.

The term “hsa-miR-8072 gene” or “hsa-miR-8072” used herein includes the hsa-miR-8072 gene (miRBase Accession No. MIMAT0030999) described in SEQ ID NO: 41, a homolog or an ortholog of a different organism species, and the like. The hsa-miR-8072 gene can be obtained by a method described in Wang H J et al., 2013, Shock, Vol. 39, p. 480-487. Also, “hsa-mir-8072” (miRBase Accession No. MI0025908, SEQ ID NO: 191) having a hairpin-like structure is known as a precursor of “hsa-miR-8072”.

The term “hsa-miR-4723-5p gene” or “hsa-miR-4723-5p” used herein includes the hsa-miR-4723-5p gene (miRBase Accession No. MIMAT0019838) described in SEQ ID NO: 42, a homolog or an ortholog of a different organism species, and the like. The hsa-miR-4723-5p gene can be obtained by a method described in Persson H et al., 2011, Cancer Res, Vol. 71, p. 78-86. Also, “hsa-mir-4723” (miRBase Accession No. MI0017359, SEQ ID NO: 192) having a hairpin-like structure is known as a precursor of “hsa-miR-4723-5p”.

The term “hsa-miR-4732-5p gene” or “hsa-miR-4732-5p” used herein includes the hsa-miR-4732-5p gene (miRBase Accession No. MIMAT0019855) described in SEQ ID NO: 43, a homolog or an ortholog of a different organism species, and the like. The hsa-miR-4732-5p gene can be obtained by a method described in Persson H et al., 2011, Cancer Res, Vol. 71, p. 78-86. Also, “hsa-mir-4732” (miRBase Accession No. MI0017369, SEQ ID NO: 193) having a hairpin-like structure is known as a precursor of “hsa-miR-4732-5p”.

The term “hsa-miR-6125 gene” or “hsa-miR-6125” used herein includes the hsa-miR-6125 gene (miRBase Accession No. MIMAT0024598) described in SEQ ID NO: 44, a homolog or an ortholog of a different organism species, and the like. The hsa-miR-6125 gene can be obtained by a method described in Smith J L et al., 2012, J Virol, Vol. 86, p. 5278-5287. Also, “hsa-mir-6125” (miRBase Accession No. MI0021259, SEQ ID NO: 194) having a hairpin-like structure is known as a precursor of “hsa-miR-6125”.

The term “hsa-miR-6090 gene” or “hsa-miR-6090” used herein includes the hsa-miR-6090 gene (miRBase Accession No. MIMAT0023715) described in SEQ ID NO: 45, a homolog or an ortholog of a different organism species, and the like. The hsa-miR-6090 gene can be obtained by a method described in Yoo J K et al., 2012, Stem Cells Dev, Vol. 21, p. 2049-2057. Also, “hsa-mir-6090” (miRBase Accession No. MI0020367, SEQ ID NO: 195) having a hairpin-like structure is known as a precursor of “hsa-miR-6090”.

The term “hsa-miR-7114-5p gene” or “hsa-miR-7114-5p” used herein includes the hsa-miR-7114-5p gene (miRBase Accession No. MIMAT0028125) described in SEQ ID NO: 46, a homolog or an ortholog of a different organism species, and the like. The hsa-miR-7114-5p gene can be obtained by a method described in Ladewig E et al., 2012, Genome Res, Vol. 22, p. 1634-1645. Also, “hsa-mir-7114” (miRBase Accession No. MI0022965, SEQ ID NO: 196) having a hairpin-like structure is known as a precursor of “hsa-miR-7114-5p”.

The term “hsa-miR-564 gene” or “hsa-miR-564” used herein includes the hsa-miR-564 gene (miRBase Accession No. MIMAT0003228) described in SEQ ID NO: 47, a homolog or an ortholog of a different organism species, and the like. The hsa-miR-564 gene can be obtained by a method described in Cummins J M et al., 2006, Proc Natl Acad Sci USA, Vol. 103, p. 3687-3692. Also, “hsa-mir-564” (miRBase Accession No. MI0003570, SEQ ID NO: 197) having a hairpin-like structure is known as a precursor of “hsa-miR-564”.

The term “hsa-miR-451a gene” or “hsa-miR-451a” used herein includes the hsa-miR-451a gene (miRBase Accession No. MIMAT0001631) described in SEQ ID NO: 48, a homolog or an ortholog of a different organism species, and the like. The hsa-miR-451a gene can be obtained by a method described in Altuvia Y et al., 2005, Nucleic Acids Res, Vol. 33, p. 2697-2706. Also, “hsa-mir-451a” (miRBase Accession No. MI0001729, SEQ ID NO: 198) having a hairpin-like structure is known as a precursor of “hsa-miR-451a”.

The term “hsa-miR-3135b gene” or “hsa-miR-3135b” used herein includes the hsa-miR-3135b gene (miRBase Accession No. MIMAT0018985) described in SEQ ID NO: 49, a homolog or an ortholog of a different organism species, and the like. The hsa-miR-3135b gene can be obtained by a method described in Jima D D et al., 2010, Blood, Vol. 116, e118-e127. Also, “hsa-mir-3135b” (miRBase Accession No. MI0016809, SEQ ID NO: 199) having a hairpin-like structure is known as a precursor of “hsa-miR-3135b”.

The term “hsa-miR-4497 gene” or “hsa-miR-4497” used herein includes the hsa-miR-4497 gene (miRBase Accession No. MIMAT0019032) described in SEQ ID NO: 50, a homolog or an ortholog of a different organism species, and the like. The hsa-miR-4497 gene can be obtained by a method described in Jima D D et al., 2010, Blood, Vol. 116, e118-e127. Also, “hsa-mir-4497” (miRBase Accession No. MI0016859, SEQ ID NO: 200) having a hairpin-like structure is known as a precursor of “hsa-miR-4497”.

The term “hsa-miR-4665-5p gene” or “hsa-miR-4665-5p” used herein includes the hsa-miR-4665-5p gene (miRBase Accession No. MIMAT0019739) described in SEQ ID NO: 51, a homolog or an ortholog of a different organism species, and the like. The hsa-miR-4665-5p gene can be obtained by a method described in Persson H et al., 2011, Cancer Res, Vol. 71, p. 78-86. Also, “hsa-mir-4665” (miRBase Accession No. MI0017295, SEQ ID NO: 201) having a hairpin-like structure is known as a precursor of “hsa-miR-4665-5p”.

The term “hsa-miR-3622a-5p gene” or “hsa-miR-3622a-5p” used herein includes the hsa-miR-3622a-5p gene (miRBase Accession No. MIMAT0018003) described in SEQ ID NO: 52, a homolog or an ortholog of a different organism species, and the like. The hsa-miR-3622a-5p gene can be obtained by a method described in Witten D et al., 2010, BMC Biol, Vol. 8, p. 58. Also, “hsa-mir-3622a” (miRBase Accession No. MI0016013, SEQ ID NO: 202) having a hairpin-like structure is known as a precursor of “hsa-miR-3622a-5p”.

The term “hsa-miR-6850-5p gene” or “hsa-miR-6850-5p” used herein includes the hsa-miR-6850-5p gene (miRBase Accession No. MIMAT0027600) described in SEQ ID NO: 53, a homolog or an ortholog of a different organism species, and the like. The hsa-miR-6850-5p gene can be obtained by a method described in Ladewig E et al., 2012, Genome Res, Vol. 22, p. 1634-1645. Also, “hsa-mir-6850” (miRBase Accession No. MI0022696, SEQ ID NO: 203) having a hairpin-like structure is known as a precursor of “hsa-miR-6850-5p”.

The term “hsa-miR-6821-5p gene” or “hsa-miR-6821-5p” used herein includes the hsa-miR-6821-5p gene (miRBase Accession No. MIMAT0027542) described in SEQ ID NO: 54, a homolog or an ortholog of a different organism species, and the like. The hsa-miR-6821-5p gene can be obtained by a method described in Ladewig E et al., 2012, Genome Res, Vol. 22, p. 1634-1645. Also, “hsa-mir-6821” (miRBase Accession No. MI0022666, SEQ ID NO: 204) having a hairpin-like structure is known as a precursor of “hsa-miR-6821-5p”.

The term “hsa-miR-5100 gene” or “hsa-miR-5100” used herein includes the hsa-miR-5100 gene (miRBase Accession No. MIMAT0022259) described in SEQ ID NO: 55, a homolog or an ortholog of a different organism species, and the like. The hsa-miR-5100 gene can be obtained by a method described in Tandon Metal., 2012, Oral Dis, Vol. 18, p. 127-131. Also, “hsa-mir-5100” (miRBase Accession No. MI0019116, SEQ ID NO: 205) having a hairpin-like structure is known as a precursor of “hsa-miR-5100”.

The term “hsa-miR-6872-3p gene” or “hsa-miR-6872-3p” used herein includes the hsa-miR-6872-3p gene (miRBase Accession No. MIMAT0027645) described in SEQ ID NO: 56, a homolog or an ortholog of a different organism species, and the like. The hsa-miR-6872-3p gene can be obtained by a method described in Ladewig E et al., 2012, Genome Res, Vol. 22, p. 1634-1645. Also, “hsa-mir-6872” (miRBase Accession No. MI0022719, SEQ ID NO: 206) having a hairpin-like structure is known as a precursor of “hsa-miR-6872-3p”.

The term “hsa-miR-4433-3p gene” or “hsa-miR-4433-3p” used herein includes the hsa-miR-4433-3p gene (miRBase Accession No. MIMAT0018949) described in SEQ ID NO: 57, a homolog or an ortholog of a different organism species, and the like. The hsa-miR-4433-3p gene can be obtained by a method described in Jima D D et al., 2010, Blood, Vol. 116, e118-e127. Also, “hsa-mir-4433” (miRBase Accession No. MI0016773, SEQ ID NO: 207) having a hairpin-like structure is known as a precursor of “hsa-miR-4433-3p”.

The term “hsa-miR-1227-5p gene” or “hsa-miR-1227-5p” used herein includes the hsa-miR-1227-5p gene (miRBase Accession No. MIMAT0022941) described in SEQ ID NO: 58, a homolog or an ortholog of a different organism species, and the like. The hsa-miR-1227-5p gene can be obtained by a method described in Berezikov E et al., 2007, Mol Cell, Vol. 28, p. 328-336. Also, “hsa-mir-1227” (miRBase Accession No. MI0006316, SEQ ID NO: 208) having a hairpin-like structure is known as a precursor of “hsa-miR-1227-5p”.

The term “hsa-miR-3188 gene” or “hsa-miR-3188” used herein includes the hsa-miR-3188 gene (miRBase Accession No. MIMAT0015070) described in SEQ ID NO: 59, a homolog or an ortholog of a different organism species, and the like. The hsa-miR-3188 gene can be obtained by a method described in Stark M S et al., 2010, PLoS One, Vol. 5, e9685. Also, “hsa-mir-3188” (miRBase Accession No. MI0014232, SEQ ID NO: 209) having a hairpin-like structure is known as a precursor of “hsa-miR-3188”.

The term “hsa-miR-7704 gene” or “hsa-miR-7704” used herein includes the hsa-miR-7704 gene (miRBase Accession No. MIMAT0030019) described in SEQ ID NO: 60, a homolog or an ortholog of a different organism species, and the like. The hsa-miR-7704 gene can be obtained by a method described in Swaminathan S et al., 2013, Biochem Biophys Res Commun, Vol. 434, p. 228-234. Also, “hsa-mir-7704” (miRBase Accession No. MI0025240, SEQ ID NO: 210) having a hairpin-like structure is known as a precursor of “hsa-miR-7704”.

The term “hsa-miR-3185 gene” or “hsa-miR-3185” used herein includes the hsa-miR-3185 gene (miRBase Accession No. MIMAT0015065) described in SEQ ID NO: 61, a homolog or an ortholog of a different organism species, and the like. The hsa-miR-3185 gene can be obtained by a method described in Stark M S et al., 2010, PLoS One, Vol. 5, e9685. Also, “hsa-mir-3185” (miRBase Accession No. MI0014227, SEQ ID NO: 211) having a hairpin-like structure is known as a precursor of “hsa-miR-3185”.

The term “hsa-miR-1908-3p gene” or “hsa-miR-1908-3p” used herein includes the hsa-miR-1908-3p gene (miRBase Accession No. MIMAT0026916) described in SEQ ID NO: 62, a homolog or an ortholog of a different organism species, and the like. The hsa-miR-1908-3p gene can be obtained by a method described in Bar M et al., 2008, Stem Cells, Vol. 26, p. 2496-2505. Also, “hsa-mir-1908” (miRBase Accession No. MI0008329, SEQ ID NO: 212) having a hairpin-like structure is known as a precursor of “hsa-miR-1908-3p”.

The term “hsa-miR-6781-5p gene” or “hsa-miR-6781-5p” used herein includes the hsa-miR-6781-5p gene (miRBase Accession No. MIMAT0027462) described in SEQ ID NO: 63, a homolog or an ortholog of a different organism species, and the like. The hsa-miR-6781-5p gene can be obtained by a method described in Ladewig E et al., 2012, Genome Res, Vol. 22, p. 1634-1645. Also, “hsa-mir-6781” (miRBase Accession No. MI0022626, SEQ ID NO: 213) having a hairpin-like structure is known as a precursor of “hsa-miR-6781-5p”.

The term “hsa-miR-6805-5p gene” or “hsa-miR-6805-5p” used herein includes the hsa-miR-6805-5p gene (miRBase Accession No. MIMAT0027510) described in SEQ ID NO: 64, a homolog or an ortholog of a different organism species, and the like. The hsa-miR-6805-5p gene can be obtained by a method described in Ladewig E et al., 2012, Genome Res, Vol. 22, p. 1634-1645. Also, “hsa-mir-6805” (miRBase Accession No. MI0022650, SEQ ID NO: 214) having a hairpin-like structure is known as a precursor of “hsa-miR-6805-5p”.

The term “hsa-miR-8089 gene” or “hsa-miR-8089” used herein includes the hsa-miR-8089 gene (miRBase Accession No. MIMAT0031016) described in SEQ ID NO: 65, a homolog or an ortholog of a different organism species, and the like. The hsa-miR-8089 gene can be obtained by a method described in Wang H J et al., 2013, Shock, Vol. 39, p. 480-487. Also, “hsa-mir-8089” (miRBase Accession No. MI0025925, SEQ ID NO: 215) having a hairpin-like structure is known as a precursor of “hsa-miR-8089”.

The term “hsa-miR-665 gene” or “hsa-miR-665” used herein includes the hsa-miR-665 gene (miRBase Accession No. MIMAT0004952) described in SEQ ID NO: 66, a homolog or an ortholog of a different organism species, and the like. The hsa-miR-665 gene can be obtained by a method described in Berezikov E et al., 2006, Genome Res, Vol. 16, p. 1289-1298. Also, “hsa-mir-665” (miRBase Accession No. MI0005563, SEQ ID NO: 216) having a hairpin-like structure is known as a precursor of “hsa-miR-665”.

The term “hsa-miR-4486 gene” or “hsa-miR-4486” used herein includes the hsa-miR-4486 gene (miRBase Accession No. MIMAT0019020) described in SEQ ID NO: 67, a homolog or an ortholog of a different organism species, and the like. The hsa-miR-4486 gene can be obtained by a method described in Jima D D et al., 2010, Blood, Vol. 116, e118-e127. Also, “hsa-mir-4486” (miRBase Accession No. MI0016847, SEQ ID NO: 217) having a hairpin-like structure is known as a precursor of “hsa-miR-4486”.

The term “hsa-miR-6722-3p gene” or “hsa-miR-6722-3p” used herein includes the hsa-miR-6722-3p gene (miRBase Accession No. MIMAT0025854) described in SEQ ID NO: 68, a homolog or an ortholog of a different organism species, and the like. The hsa-miR-6722-3p gene can be obtained by a method described in Li Y et al., 2012, Gene, Vol. 497, p. 330-335. Also, “hsa-mir-6722” (miRBase Accession No. MI0022557, SEQ ID NO: 218) having a hairpin-like structure is known as a precursor of “hsa-miR-6722-3p”.

The term “hsa-miR-1260a gene” or “hsa-miR-1260a” used herein includes the hsa-miR-1260a gene (miRBase Accession No. MIMAT0005911) described in SEQ ID NO: 69, a homolog or an ortholog of a different organism species, and the like. The hsa-miR-1260a gene can be obtained by a method described in Morin R D et al., 2008, Genome Res, Vol. 18, p. 610-621. Also, “hsa-mir-1260a” (miRBase Accession No. MI0006394, SEQ ID NO: 219) having a hairpin-like structure is known as a precursor of “hsa-miR-1260a”.

The term “hsa-miR-4707-5p gene” or “hsa-miR-4707-5p” used herein includes the hsa-miR-4707-5p gene (miRBase Accession No. MIMAT0019807) described in SEQ ID NO: 70, a homolog or an ortholog of a different organism species, and the like. The hsa-miR-4707-5p gene can be obtained by a method described in Persson H et al., 2011, Cancer Res, Vol. 71, p. 78-86. Also, “hsa-mir-4707” (miRBase Accession No. MI0017340, SEQ ID NO: 220) having a hairpin-like structure is known as a precursor of “hsa-miR-4707-5p”.

The term “hsa-miR-6741-5p gene” or “hsa-miR-6741-5p” used herein includes the hsa-miR-6741-5p gene (miRBase Accession No. MIMAT0027383) described in SEQ ID NO: 71, a homolog or an ortholog of a different organism species, and the like. The hsa-miR-6741-5p gene can be obtained by a method described in Ladewig E et al., 2012, Genome Res, Vol. 22, p. 1634-1645. Also, “hsa-mir-6741” (miRBase Accession No. MI0022586, SEQ ID NO: 221) having a hairpin-like structure is known as a precursor of “hsa-miR-6741-5p”.

The term “hsa-miR-1260b gene” or “hsa-miR-1260b” used herein includes the hsa-miR-1260b gene (miRBase Accession No. MIMAT0015041) described in SEQ ID NO: 72, a homolog or an ortholog of a different organism species, and the like. The hsa-miR-1260b gene can be obtained by a method described in Stark M S et al., 2010, PLoS One, Vol. 5, e9685. Also, “hsa-mir-1260b” (miRBase Accession No. MI0014197, SEQ ID NO: 222) having a hairpin-like structure is known as a precursor of “hsa-miR-1260b”.

The term “hsa-miR-1246 gene” or “hsa-miR-1246” used herein includes the hsa-miR-1246 gene (miRBase Accession No. MIMAT0005898) described in SEQ ID NO: 73, a homolog or an ortholog of a different organism species, and the like. The hsa-miR-1246 gene can be obtained by a method described in Morin R D et al., 2008, Genome Res, Vol. 18, p. 610-621. Also, “hsa-mir-1246” (miRBase Accession No. MI0006381, SEQ ID NO: 223) having a hairpin-like structure is known as a precursor of “hsa-miR-1246”.

The term “hsa-miR-6845-5p gene” or “hsa-miR-6845-5p” used herein includes the hsa-miR-6845-5p gene (miRBase Accession No. MIMAT0027590) described in SEQ ID NO: 74, a homolog or an ortholog of a different organism species, and the like. The hsa-miR-6845-5p gene can be obtained by a method described in Ladewig E et al., 2012, Genome Res, Vol. 22, p. 1634-1645. Also, “hsa-mir-6845” (miRBase Accession No. MI0022691, SEQ ID NO: 224) having a hairpin-like structure is known as a precursor of “hsa-miR-6845-5p”.

The term “hsa-miR-4638-5p gene” or “hsa-miR-4638-5p” used herein includes the hsa-miR-4638-5p gene (miRBase Accession No. MIMAT0019695) described in SEQ ID NO: 75, a homolog or an ortholog of a different organism species, and the like. The hsa-miR-4638-5p gene can be obtained by a method described in Persson H et al., 2011, Cancer Res, Vol. 71, p. 78-86. Also, “hsa-mir-4638” (miRBase Accession No. MI0017265, SEQ ID NO: 225) having a hairpin-like structure is known as a precursor of “hsa-miR-4638-5p”.

The term “hsa-miR-6085 gene” or “hsa-miR-6085” used herein includes the hsa-miR-6085 gene (miRBase Accession No. MIMAT0023710) described in SEQ ID NO: 76, a homolog or an ortholog of a different organism species, and the like. The hsa-miR-6085 gene can be obtained by a method described in Voellenkle C et al., 2012, RNA, Vol. 18, p. 472-484. Also, “hsa-mir-6085” (miRBase Accession No. MI0020362, SEQ ID NO: 226) having a hairpin-like structure is known as a precursor of “hsa-miR-6085”.

The term “hsa-miR-1228-3p gene” or “hsa-miR-1228-3p” used herein includes the hsa-miR-1228-3p gene (miRBase Accession No. MIMAT0005583) described in SEQ ID NO: 77, a homolog or an ortholog of a different organism species, and the like. The hsa-miR-1228-3p gene can be obtained by a method described in Berezikov E et al., 2007, Mol Cell, Vol. 28, p. 328-336. Also, “hsa-mir-1228” (miRBase Accession No. MI0006318, SEQ ID NO: 227) having a hairpin-like structure is known as a precursor of “hsa-miR-1228-3p”.

The term “hsa-miR-4534 gene” or “hsa-miR-4534” used herein includes the hsa-miR-4534 gene (miRBase Accession No. MIMAT0019073) described in SEQ ID NO: 78, a homolog or an ortholog of a different organism species, and the like. The hsa-miR-4534 gene can be obtained by a method described in Jima D D et al., 2010, Blood, Vol. 116, e118-e127. Also, “hsa-mir-4534” (miRBase Accession No. MI0016901, SEQ ID NO: 228) having a hairpin-like structure is known as a precursor of “hsa-miR-4534”.

The term “hsa-miR-5585-3p gene” or “hsa-miR-5585-3p” used herein includes the hsa-miR-5585-3p gene (miRBase Accession No. MIMAT0022286) described in SEQ ID NO: 79, a homolog or an ortholog of a different organism species, and the like. The hsa-miR-5585-3p gene can be obtained by a method described in Friedlander M R et al., 2012, Nucleic Acids Res, Vol. 40, p. 37-52. Also, “hsa-mir-5585” (miRBase Accession No. MI0019142, SEQ ID NO: 229) having a hairpin-like structure is known as a precursor of “hsa-miR-5585-3p”.

The term “hsa-miR-4741 gene” or “hsa-miR-4741” used herein includes the hsa-miR-4741 gene (miRBase Accession No. MIMAT0019871) described in SEQ ID NO: 80, a homolog or an ortholog of a different organism species, and the like. The hsa-miR-4741 gene can be obtained by a method described in Persson H et al., 2011, Cancer Res, Vol. 71, p. 78-86. Also, “hsa-mir-4741” (miRBase Accession No. MI0017379, SEQ ID NO: 230) having a hairpin-like structure is known as a precursor of “hsa-miR-4741”.

The term “hsa-miR-4433b-3p gene” or “hsa-miR-4433b-3p” used herein includes the hsa-miR-4433b-3p gene (miRBase Accession No. MIMAT0030414) described in SEQ ID NO: 81, a homolog or an ortholog of a different organism species, and the like. The hsa-miR-4433b-3p gene can be obtained by a method described in Ple H et al., 2012, PLoS One, Vol. 7, e50746. Also, “hsa-mir-4433b” (miRBase Accession No. MI0025511, SEQ ID NO: 231) having a hairpin-like structure is known as a precursor of “hsa-miR-4433b-3p”.

The term “hsa-miR-197-5p gene” or “hsa-miR-197-5p” used herein includes the hsa-miR-197-5p gene (miRBase Accession No. MIMAT0022691) described in SEQ ID NO: 82, a homolog or an ortholog of a different organism species, and the like. The hsa-miR-197-5p gene can be obtained by a method described in Lagos-Quintana M et al., 2003, RNA, Vol. 9, p. 175-179. Also, “hsa-mir-197” (miRBase Accession No. MI0000239, SEQ ID NO: 232) having a hairpin-like structure is known as a precursor of “hsa-miR-197-5p”.

The term “hsa-miR-718 gene” or “hsa-miR-718” used herein includes the hsa-miR-718 gene (miRBase Accession No. MIMAT0012735) described in SEQ ID NO: 83, a homolog or an ortholog of a different organism species, and the like. The hsa-miR-718 gene can be obtained by a method described in Artzi S et al., 2008, BMC Bioinformatics, Vol. 9, p. 39. Also, “hsa-mir-718” (miRBase Accession No. MI0012489, SEQ ID NO: 233) having a hairpin-like structure is known as a precursor of “hsa-miR-718”.

The term “hsa-miR-4513 gene” or “hsa-miR-4513” used herein includes the hsa-miR-4513 gene (miRBase Accession No. MIMAT0019050) described in SEQ ID NO: 84, a homolog or an ortholog of a different organism species, and the like. The hsa-miR-4513 gene can be obtained by a method described in Jima D D et al., 2010, Blood, Vol. 116, e118-e127. Also, “hsa-mir-4513” (miRBase Accession No. MI0016879, SEQ ID NO: 234) having a hairpin-like structure is known as a precursor of “hsa-miR-4513”.

The term “hsa-miR-4446-3p gene” or “hsa-miR-4446-3p” used herein includes the hsa-miR-4446-3p gene (miRBase Accession No. MIMAT0018965) described in SEQ ID NO: 85, a homolog or an ortholog of a different organism species, and the like. The hsa-miR-4446-3p gene can be obtained by a method described in Jima D D et al., 2010, Blood, Vol. 116, e118-e127. Also, “hsa-mir-4446” (miRBase Accession No. MI0016789, SEQ ID NO: 235) having a hairpin-like structure is known as a precursor of “hsa-miR-4446-3p”.

The term “hsa-miR-619-5p gene” or “hsa-miR-619-5p” used herein includes the hsa-miR-619-5p gene (miRBase Accession No. MIMAT0026622) described in SEQ ID NO: 86, a homolog or an ortholog of a different organism species, and the like. The hsa-miR-619-5p gene can be obtained by a method described in Cummins J M et al., 2006, Proc Natl Acad Sci USA, Vol. 103, p. 3687-3692. Also, “hsa-mir-619” (miRBase Accession No. MI0003633, SEQ ID NO: 236) having a hairpin-like structure is known as a precursor of “hsa-miR-619-5p”.

The term “hsa-miR-6816-5p gene” or “hsa-miR-6816-5p” used herein includes the hsa-miR-6816-5p gene (miRBase Accession No. MIMAT0027532) described in SEQ ID NO: 87, a homolog or an ortholog of a different organism species, and the like. The hsa-miR-6816-5p gene can be obtained by a method described in Ladewig E et al., 2012, Genome Res, Vol. 22, p. 1634-1645. Also, “hsa-mir-6816” (miRBase Accession No. MI0022661, SEQ ID NO: 237) having a hairpin-like structure is known as a precursor of “hsa-miR-6816-5p”.

The term “hsa-miR-6778-5p gene” or “hsa-miR-6778-5p” used herein includes the hsa-miR-6778-5p gene (miRBase Accession No. MIMAT0027456) described in SEQ ID NO: 88, a homolog or an ortholog of a different organism species, and the like. The hsa-miR-6778-5p gene can be obtained by a method described in Ladewig E et al., 2012, Genome Res, Vol. 22, p. 1634-1645. Also, “hsa-mir-6778” (miRBase Accession No. MI0022623, SEQ ID NO: 238) having a hairpin-like structure is known as a precursor of “hsa-miR-6778-5p”.

The term “hsa-miR-24-3p gene” or “hsa-miR-24-3p” used herein includes the hsa-miR-24-3p gene (miRBase Accession No. MIMAT0000080) described in SEQ ID NO: 89, a homolog or an ortholog of a different organism species, and the like. The hsa-miR-24-3p gene can be obtained by a method described in Lagos-Quintana M et al., 2001, Science, Vol. 294, p. 853-858. Also, “hsa-mir-24-1” and “hsa-mir-24-2” (miRBase Accession Nos. MI0000080 and MI0000081, SEQ ID NOs: 239 and 240) having a hairpin-like structure are known as precursors of “hsa-miR-24-3p”.

The term “hsa-miR-1915-3p gene” or “hsa-miR-1915-3p” used herein includes the hsa-miR-1915-3p gene (miRBase Accession No. MIMAT0007892) described in SEQ ID NO: 90, a homolog or an ortholog of a different organism species, and the like. The hsa-miR-1915-3p gene can be obtained by a method described in Bar M et al., 2008, Stem Cells, Vol. 26, p. 2496-2505. Also, “hsa-mir-1915” (miRBase Accession No. MI0008336, SEQ ID NO: 241) having a hairpin-like structure is known as a precursor of “hsa-miR-1915-3p”.

The term “hsa-miR-4665-3p gene” or “hsa-miR-4665-3p” used herein includes the hsa-miR-4665-3p gene (miRBase Accession No. MIMAT0019740) described in SEQ ID NO: 91, a homolog or an ortholog of a different organism species, and the like. The hsa-miR-4665-3p gene can be obtained by a method described in Persson H et al., 2011, Cancer Res, Vol. 71, p. 78-86. Also, “hsa-mir-4665” (miRBase Accession No. MI0017295, SEQ ID NO: 201) having a hairpin-like structure is known as a precursor of “hsa-miR-4665-3p”.

The term “hsa-miR-4449 gene” or “hsa-miR-4449” used herein includes the hsa-miR-4449 gene (miRBase Accession No. MIMAT0018968) described in SEQ ID NO: 92, a homolog or an ortholog of a different organism species, and the like. The hsa-miR-4449 gene can be obtained by a method described in Jima D D et al., 2010, Blood, Vol. 116, e118-e127. Also, “hsa-mir-4449” (miRBase Accession No. MI0016792, SEQ ID NO: 242) having a hairpin-like structure is known as a precursor of “hsa-miR-4449”.

The term “hsa-miR-6889-5p gene” or “hsa-miR-6889-5p” used herein includes the hsa-miR-6889-5p gene (miRBase Accession No. MIMAT0027678) described in SEQ ID NO: 93, a homolog or an ortholog of a different organism species, and the like. The hsa-miR-6889-5p gene can be obtained by a method described in Ladewig E et al., 2012, Genome Res, Vol. 22, p. 1634-1645. Also, “hsa-mir-6889” (miRBase Accession No. MI0022736, SEQ ID NO: 243) having a hairpin-like structure is known as a precursor of “hsa-miR-6889-5p”.

The term “hsa-miR-486-3p gene” or “hsa-miR-486-3p” used herein includes the hsa-miR-486-3p gene (miRBase Accession No. MIMAT0004762) described in SEQ ID NO: 94, a homolog or an ortholog of a different organism species, and the like. The hsa-miR-486-3p gene can be obtained by a method described in Fu H et al., 2005, FEBS Lett, Vol. 579, p. 3849-3854. Also, “hsa-mir-486, hsa-mir-486-2” (miRBase Accession No. MI0002470, MI0023622, SEQ ID NO: 244, 245) having a hairpin-like structure is known as a precursor of “hsa-miR-486-3p”.

The term “hsa-miR-7113-3p gene” or “hsa-miR-7113-3p” used herein includes the hsa-miR-7113-3p gene (miRBase Accession No. MIMAT0028124) described in SEQ ID NO: 95, a homolog or an ortholog of a different organism species, and the like. The hsa-miR-7113-3p gene can be obtained by a method described in Ladewig E et al., 2012, Genome Res, Vol. 22, p. 1634-1645. Also, “hsa-mir-7113” (miRBase Accession No. MI0022964, SEQ ID NO: 246) having a hairpin-like structure is known as a precursor of “hsa-miR-7113-3p”.

The term “hsa-miR-642a-3p gene” or “hsa-miR-642a-3p” used herein includes the hsa-miR-642a-3p gene (miRBase Accession No. MIMAT0020924) described in SEQ ID NO: 96, a homolog or an ortholog of a different organism species, and the like. The hsa-miR-642a-3p gene can be obtained by a method described in Cummins J M et al., 2006, Proc Natl Acad Sci USA, Vol. 103, p. 3687-3692. Also, “hsa-mir-642a” (miRBase Accession No. MI0003657, SEQ ID NO: 247) having a hairpin-like structure is known as a precursor of “hsa-miR-642a-3p”.

The term “hsa-miR-7847-3p gene” or “hsa-miR-7847-3p” used herein includes the hsa-miR-7847-3p gene (miRBase Accession No. MIMAT0030422) described in SEQ ID NO: 97, a homolog or an ortholog of a different organism species, and the like. The hsa-miR-7847-3p gene can be obtained by a method described in Ple H et al., 2012, PLoS One, Vol. 7, e50746. Also, “hsa-mir-7847” (miRBase Accession No. MI0025517, SEQ ID NO: 248) having a hairpin-like structure is known as a precursor of “hsa-miR-7847-3p”.

The term “hsa-miR-6768-5p gene” or “hsa-miR-6768-5p” used herein includes the hsa-miR-6768-5p gene (miRBase Accession No. MIMAT0027436) described in SEQ ID NO: 98, a homolog or an ortholog of a different organism species, and the like. The hsa-miR-6768-5p gene can be obtained by a method described in Ladewig E et al., 2012, Genome Res, Vol. 22, p. 1634-1645. Also, “hsa-mir-6768” (miRBase Accession No. MI0022613, SEQ ID NO: 249) having a hairpin-like structure is known as a precursor of “hsa-miR-6768-5p”.

The term “hsa-miR-1290 gene” or “hsa-miR-1290” used herein includes the hsa-miR-1290 gene (miRBase Accession No. MIMAT0005880) described in SEQ ID NO: 99, a homolog or an ortholog of a different organism species, and the like. The hsa-miR-1290 gene can be obtained by a method described in Morin R D et al., 2008, Genome Res, Vol. 18, p. 610-621. Also, “hsa-mir-1290” (miRBase Accession No. MI0006352, SEQ ID NO: 250) having a hairpin-like structure is known as a precursor of “hsa-miR-1290”.

The term “hsa-miR-7108-5p gene” or “hsa-miR-7108-5p” used herein includes the hsa-miR-7108-5p gene (miRBase Accession No. MIMAT0028113) described in SEQ ID NO: 100, a homolog or an ortholog of a different organism species, and the like. The hsa-miR-7108-5p gene can be obtained by a method described in Ladewig E et al., 2012, Genome Res, Vol. 22, p. 1634-1645. Also, “hsa-mir-7108” (miRBase Accession No. MI0022959, SEQ ID NO: 251) having a hairpin-like structure is known as a precursor of “hsa-miR-7108-5p”.

The term “hsa-miR-92b-5p gene” or “hsa-miR-92b-5p” used herein includes the hsa-miR-92b-5p gene (miRBase Accession No. MIMAT0004792) described in SEQ ID NO: 101, a homolog or an ortholog of a different organism species, and the like. The hsa-miR-92b-5p gene can be obtained by a method described in Cummins J M et al., 2006, Proc Natl Acad Sci USA, Vol. 103, p. 3687-3692. Also, “hsa-mir-92b” (miRBase Accession No. MI0003560, SEQ ID NO: 252) having a hairpin-like structure is known as a precursor of “hsa-miR-92b-5p”.

The term “hsa-miR-663b gene” or “hsa-miR-663b” used herein includes the hsa-miR-663b gene (miRBase Accession No. MIMAT0005867) described in SEQ ID NO: 102, a homolog or an ortholog of a different organism species, and the like. The hsa-miR-663b gene can be obtained by a method described in Takada S et al., 2008, Leukemia, Vol. 22, p. 1274-1278. Also, “hsa-mir-663b” (miRBase Accession No. MI0006336, SEQ ID NO: 253) having a hairpin-like structure is known as a precursor of “hsa-miR-663b”.

The term “hsa-miR-3940-5p gene” or “hsa-miR-3940-5p” used herein includes the hsa-miR-3940-5p gene (miRBase Accession No. MIMAT0019229) described in SEQ ID NO: 103, a homolog or an ortholog of a different organism species, and the like. The hsa-miR-3940-5p gene can be obtained by a method described in Liao J Y et al., 2010, PLoS One, Vol. 5, e10563. Also, “hsa-mir-3940” (miRBase Accession No. MI0016597, SEQ ID NO: 254) having a hairpin-like structure is known as a precursor of “hsa-miR-3940-5p”.

The term “hsa-miR-4467 gene” or “hsa-miR-4467” used herein includes the hsa-miR-4467 gene (miRBase Accession No. MIMAT0018994) described in SEQ ID NO: 104, a homolog or an ortholog of a different organism species, and the like. The hsa-miR-4467 gene can be obtained by a method described in Jima D D et al., 2010, Blood, Vol. 116, e118-e127. Also, “hsa-mir-4467” (miRBase Accession No. MI0016818, SEQ ID NO: 255) having a hairpin-like structure is known as a precursor of “hsa-miR-4467”.

The term “hsa-miR-6858-5p gene” or “hsa-miR-6858-5p” used herein includes the hsa-miR-6858-5p gene (miRBase Accession No. MIMAT0027616) described in SEQ ID NO: 105, a homolog or an ortholog of a different organism species, and the like. The hsa-miR-6858-5p gene can be obtained by a method described in Ladewig E et al., 2012, Genome Res, Vol. 22, p. 1634-1645. Also, “hsa-mir-6858” (miRBase Accession No. MI0022704, SEQ ID NO: 256) having a hairpin-like structure is known as a precursor of “hsa-miR-6858-5p”.

The term “hsa-miR-4417 gene” or “hsa-miR-4417” used herein includes the hsa-miR-4417 gene (miRBase Accession No. MIMAT0018929) described in SEQ ID NO: 106, a homolog or an ortholog of a different organism species, and the like. The hsa-miR-4417 gene can be obtained by a method described in Jima D D et al., 2010, Blood, Vol. 116, e118-e127. Also, “hsa-mir-4417” (miRBase Accession No. MI0016753, SEQ ID NO: 257) having a hairpin-like structure is known as a precursor of “hsa-miR-4417”.

The term “hsa-miR-3665 gene” or “hsa-miR-3665” used herein includes the hsa-miR-3665 gene (miRBase Accession No. MIMAT0018087) described in SEQ ID NO: 107, a homolog or an ortholog of a different organism species, and the like. The hsa-miR-3665 gene can be obtained by a method described in Xie X et al., 2005, Nature, Vol. 434, p. 338-345. Also, “hsa-mir-3665” (miRBase Accession No. MI0016066, SEQ ID NO: 258) having a hairpin-like structure is known as a precursor of “hsa-miR-3665”.

The term “hsa-miR-4736 gene” or “hsa-miR-4736” used herein includes the hsa-miR-4736 gene (miRBase Accession No. MIMAT0019862) described in SEQ ID NO: 108, a homolog or an ortholog of a different organism species, and the like. The hsa-miR-4736 gene can be obtained by a method described in Persson H et al., 2011, Cancer Res, Vol. 71, p. 78-86. Also, “hsa-mir-4736” (miRBase Accession No. MI0017373, SEQ ID NO: 259) having a hairpin-like structure is known as a precursor of “hsa-miR-4736”.

The term “hsa-miR-4687-3p gene” or “hsa-miR-4687-3p” used herein includes the hsa-miR-4687-3p gene (miRBase Accession No. MIMAT0019775) described in SEQ ID NO: 109, a homolog or an ortholog of a different organism species, and the like. The hsa-miR-4687-3p gene can be obtained by a method described in Persson H et al., 2011, Cancer Res, Vol. 71, p. 78-86. Also, “hsa-mir-4687” (miRBase Accession No. MI0017319, SEQ ID NO: 260) having a hairpin-like structure is known as a precursor of “hsa-miR-4687-3p”.

The term “hsa-miR-1908-5p gene” or “hsa-miR-1908-5p” used herein includes the hsa-miR-1908-5p gene (miRBase Accession No. MIMAT0007881) described in SEQ ID NO: 110, a homolog or an ortholog of a different organism species, and the like. The hsa-miR-1908-5p gene can be obtained by a method described in Bar M et al., 2008, Stem Cells, Vol. 26, p. 2496-2505. Also, “hsa-mir-1908” (miRBase Accession No. MI0008329, SEQ ID NO: 212) having a hairpin-like structure is known as a precursor of “hsa-miR-1908-5p”.

The term “hsa-miR-5195-3p gene” or “hsa-miR-5195-3p” used herein includes the hsa-miR-5195-3p gene (miRBase Accession No. MIMAT0021127) described in SEQ ID NO: 111, a homolog or an ortholog of a different organism species, and the like. The hsa-miR-5195-3p gene can be obtained by a method described in Schotte D et al., 2011, Leukemia, Vol. 25, p. 1389-1399. Also, “hsa-mir-5195” (miRBase Accession No. MI0018174, SEQ ID NO: 261) having a hairpin-like structure is known as a precursor of “hsa-miR-5195-3p”.

The term “hsa-miR-4286 gene” or “hsa-miR-4286” used herein includes the hsa-miR-4286 gene (miRBase Accession No. MIMAT0016916) described in SEQ ID NO: 112, a homolog or an ortholog of a different organism species, and the like. The hsa-miR-4286 gene can be obtained by a method described in Goff L A et al., 2009, PLoS One, Vol. 4, e7192. Also, “hsa-mir-4286” (miRBase Accession No. MI0015894, SEQ ID NO: 262) having a hairpin-like structure is known as a precursor of “hsa-miR-4286”.

The term “hsa-miR-3679-3p gene” or “hsa-miR-3679-3p” used herein includes the hsa-miR-3679-3p gene (miRBase Accession No. MIMAT0018105) described in SEQ ID NO: 113, a homolog or an ortholog of a different organism species, and the like. The hsa-miR-3679-3p gene can be obtained by a method described in Creighton C J et al., 2010, PLoS One, Vol. 5, e9637. Also, “hsa-mir-3679” (miRBase Accession No. MI0016080, SEQ ID NO: 263) having a hairpin-like structure is known as a precursor of “hsa-miR-3679-3p”.

The term “hsa-miR-6791-5p gene” or “hsa-miR-6791-5p” used herein includes the hsa-miR-6791-5p gene (miRBase Accession No. MIMAT0027482) described in SEQ ID NO: 114, a homolog or an ortholog of a different organism species, and the like. The hsa-miR-6791-5p gene can be obtained by a method described in Ladewig E et al., 2012, Genome Res, Vol. 22, p. 1634-1645. Also, “hsa-mir-6791” (miRBase Accession No. MI0022636, SEQ ID NO: 264) having a hairpin-like structure is known as a precursor of “hsa-miR-6791-5p”.

The term “hsa-miR-1202 gene” or “hsa-miR-1202” used herein includes the hsa-miR-1202 gene (miRBase Accession No. MIMAT0005865) described in SEQ ID NO: 115, a homolog or an ortholog of a different organism species, and the like. The hsa-miR-1202 gene can be obtained by a method described in Marton S et al., 2008, Leukemia, Vol. 22, p. 330-338. Also, “hsa-mir-1202” (miRBase Accession No. MI0006334, SEQ ID NO: 265) having a hairpin-like structure is known as a precursor of “hsa-miR-1202”.

The term “hsa-miR-3656 gene” or “hsa-miR-3656” used herein includes the hsa-miR-3656 gene (miRBase Accession No. MIMAT0018076) described in SEQ ID NO: 116, a homolog or an ortholog of a different organism species, and the like. The hsa-miR-3656 gene can be obtained by a method described in Meiri E et al., 2010, Nucleic Acids Res, Vol. 38, p. 6234-6246. Also, “hsa-mir-3656” (miRBase Accession No. MI0016056, SEQ ID NO: 266) having a hairpin-like structure is known as a precursor of “hsa-miR-3656”.

The term “hsa-miR-4746-3p gene” or “hsa-miR-4746-3p” used herein includes the hsa-miR-4746-3p gene (miRBase Accession No. MIMAT0019881) described in SEQ ID NO: 117, a homolog or an ortholog of a different organism species, and the like. The hsa-miR-4746-3p gene can be obtained by a method described in Persson H et al., 2011, Cancer Res, Vol. 71, p. 78-86. Also, “hsa-mir-4746” (miRBase Accession No. MI0017385, SEQ ID NO: 267) having a hairpin-like structure is known as a precursor of “hsa-miR-4746-3p”.

The term “hsa-miR-3184-5p gene” or “hsa-miR-3184-5p” used herein includes the hsa-miR-3184-5p gene (miRBase Accession No. MIMAT0015064) described in SEQ ID NO: 118, a homolog or an ortholog of a different organism species, and the like. The hsa-miR-3184-5p gene can be obtained by a method described in Stark M S et al., 2010, PLoS One, Vol. 5, e9685. Also, “hsa-mir-3184” (miRBase Accession No. MI0014226, SEQ ID NO: 268) having a hairpin-like structure is known as a precursor of “hsa-miR-3184-5p”.

The term “hsa-miR-3937 gene” or “hsa-miR-3937” used herein includes the hsa-miR-3937 gene (miRBase Accession No. MIMAT0018352) described in SEQ ID NO: 119, a homolog or an ortholog of a different organism species, and the like. The hsa-miR-3937 gene can be obtained by a method described in Liao J Y et al., 2010, PLoS One, Vol. 5, e10563. Also, “hsa-mir-3937” (miRBase Accession No. MI0016593, SEQ ID NO: 269) having a hairpin-like structure is known as a precursor of “hsa-miR-3937”.

The term “hsa-miR-6515-3p gene” or “hsa-miR-6515-3p” used herein includes the hsa-miR-6515-3p gene (miRBase Accession No. MIMAT0025487) described in SEQ ID NO: 120, a homolog or an ortholog of a different organism species, and the like. The hsa-miR-6515-3p gene can be obtained by a method described in Joyce C E et al., 2011, Hum Mol Genet, Vol. 20, p. 4025-4040. Also, “hsa-mir-6515” (miRBase Accession No. MI0022227, SEQ ID NO: 270) having a hairpin-like structure is known as a precursor of “hsa-miR-6515-3p”.

The term “hsa-miR-6132 gene” or “hsa-miR-6132” used herein includes the hsa-miR-6132 gene (miRBase Accession No. MIMAT0024616) described in SEQ ID NO: 121, a homolog or an ortholog of a different organism species, and the like. The hsa-miR-6132 gene can be obtained by a method described in Dannemann M et al., 2012, Genome Biol Evol, Vol. 4, p. 552-564. Also, “hsa-mir-6132” (miRBase Accession No. MI0021277, SEQ ID NO: 271) having a hairpin-like structure is known as a precursor of “hsa-miR-6132”.

The term “hsa-miR-187-5p gene” or “hsa-miR-187-5p” used herein includes the hsa-miR-187-5p gene (miRBase Accession No. MIMAT0004561) described in SEQ ID NO: 122, a homolog or an ortholog of a different organism species, and the like. The hsa-miR-187-5p gene can be obtained by a method described in Lim L P et al., 2003, Science, Vol. 299, p. 1540. Also, “hsa-mir-187” (miRBase Accession No. MI0000274, SEQ ID NO: 272) having a hairpin-like structure is known as a precursor of “hsa-miR-187-5p”.

The term “hsa-miR-7111-5p gene” or “hsa-miR-7111-5p” used herein includes the hsa-miR-7111-5p gene (miRBase Accession No. MIMAT0028119) described in SEQ ID NO: 123, a homolog or an ortholog of a different organism species, and the like. The hsa-miR-7111-5p gene can be obtained by a method described in Ladewig E et al., 2012, Genome Res, Vol. 22, p. 1634-1645. Also, “hsa-mir-7111” (miRBase Accession No. MI0022962, SEQ ID NO: 273) having a hairpin-like structure is known as a precursor of “hsa-miR-7111-5p”.

The term “hsa-miR-5787 gene” or “hsa-miR-5787” used herein includes the hsa-miR-5787 gene (miRBase Accession No. MIMAT0023252) described in SEQ ID NO: 124, a homolog or an ortholog of a different organism species, and the like. The hsa-miR-5787 gene can be obtained by a method described in Yoo H et al., 2011, Biochem Biophys Res Commun, Vol. 415, p. 567-572. Also, “hsa-mir-5787” (miRBase Accession No. MI0019797, SEQ ID NO: 274) having a hairpin-like structure is known as a precursor of “hsa-miR-5787”.

The term “hsa-miR-6779-5p gene” or “hsa-miR-6779-5p” used herein includes the hsa-miR-6779-5p gene (miRBase Accession No. MIMAT0027458) described in SEQ ID NO: 125, a homolog or an ortholog of a different organism species, and the like. The hsa-miR-6779-5p gene can be obtained by a method described in Ladewig E et al., 2012, Genome Res, Vol. 22, p. 1634-1645. Also, “hsa-mir-6779” (miRBase Accession No. MI0022624, SEQ ID NO: 275) having a hairpin-like structure is known as a precursor of “hsa-miR-6779-5p”.

The term “hsa-miR-6808-5p gene” or “hsa-miR-6808-5p” used herein includes the hsa-miR-6808-5p gene (miRBase Accession No. MIMAT0027516) described in SEQ ID NO: 126, a homolog or an ortholog of a different organism species, and the like. The hsa-miR-6808-5p gene can be obtained by a method described in Ladewig E et al., 2012, Genome Res, Vol. 22, p. 1634-1645. Also, “hsa-mir-6808” (miRBase Accession No. MI0022653, SEQ ID NO: 276) having a hairpin-like structure is known as a precursor of “hsa-miR-6808-5p”.

The term “hsa-miR-6774-5p gene” or “hsa-miR-6774-5p” used herein includes the hsa-miR-6774-5p gene (miRBase Accession No. MIMAT0027448) described in SEQ ID NO: 127, a homolog or an ortholog of a different organism species, and the like. The hsa-miR-6774-5p gene can be obtained by a method described in Ladewig E et al., 2012, Genome Res, Vol. 22, p. 1634-1645. Also, “hsa-mir-6774” (miRBase Accession No. MI0022619, SEQ ID NO: 277) having a hairpin-like structure is known as a precursor of “hsa-miR-6774-5p”.

The term “hsa-miR-4656 gene” or “hsa-miR-4656” used herein includes the hsa-miR-4656 gene (miRBase Accession No. MIMAT0019723) described in SEQ ID NO: 128, a homolog or an ortholog of a different organism species, and the like. The hsa-miR-4656 gene can be obtained by a method described in Persson H et al., 2011, Cancer Res, Vol. 71, p. 78-86. Also, “hsa-mir-4656” (miRBase Accession No. MI0017284, SEQ ID NO: 278) having a hairpin-like structure is known as a precursor of “hsa-miR-4656”.

The term “hsa-miR-6806-5p gene” or “hsa-miR-6806-5p” used herein includes the hsa-miR-6806-5p gene (miRBase Accession No. MIMAT0027512) described in SEQ ID NO: 129, a homolog or an ortholog of a different organism species, and the like. The hsa-miR-6806-5p gene can be obtained by a method described in Ladewig E et al., 2012, Genome Res, Vol. 22, p. 1634-1645. Also, “hsa-mir-6806” (miRBase Accession No. MI0022651, SEQ ID NO: 279) having a hairpin-like structure is known as a precursor of “hsa-miR-6806-5p”.

The term “hsa-miR-1233-5p gene” or “hsa-miR-1233-5p” used herein includes the hsa-miR-1233-5p gene (miRBase Accession No. MIMAT0022943) described in SEQ ID NO: 130, a homolog or an ortholog of a different organism species, and the like. The hsa-miR-1233-5p gene can be obtained by a method described in Berezikov E et al., 2007, Mol Cell, Vol. 28, p. 328-336. Also, “hsa-mir-1233-1” and “hsa-mir-1233-2” (miRBase Accession Nos. MI0006323 and MI0015973, SEQ ID NOs: 280 and 281) having a hairpin-like structure are known as precursors of “hsa-miR-1233-5p”.

The term “hsa-miR-328-5p gene” or “hsa-miR-328-5p” used herein includes the hsa-miR-328-5p gene (miRBase Accession No. MIMAT0026486) described in SEQ ID NO: 131, a homolog or an ortholog of a different organism species, and the like. The hsa-miR-328-5p gene can be obtained by a method described in Kim J et al., 2004, Proc Natl Acad Sci USA, Vol. 101, p. 360-365. Also, “hsa-mir-328” (miRBase Accession No. MI0000804, SEQ ID NO: 282) having a hairpin-like structure is known as a precursor of “hsa-miR-328-5p”.

The term “hsa-miR-4674 gene” or “hsa-miR-4674” used herein includes the hsa-miR-4674 gene (miRBase Accession No. MIMAT0019756) described in SEQ ID NO: 132, a homolog or an ortholog of a different organism species, and the like. The hsa-miR-4674 gene can be obtained by a method described in Persson H et al., 2011, Cancer Res, Vol. 71, p. 78-86. Also, “hsa-mir-4674” (miRBase Accession No. MI0017305, SEQ ID NO: 283) having a hairpin-like structure is known as a precursor of “hsa-miR-4674”.

The term “hsa-miR-2110 gene” or “hsa-miR-2110” used herein includes the hsa-miR-2110 gene (miRBase Accession No. MIMAT0010133) described in SEQ ID NO: 133, a homolog or an ortholog of a different organism species, and the like. The hsa-miR-2110 gene can be obtained by a method described in Zhu J Y et al., 2009, J Virol, Vol. 83, p. 3333-3341. Also, “hsa-mir-2110” (miRBase Accession No. MI0010629, SEQ ID NO: 284) having a hairpin-like structure is known as a precursor of “hsa-miR-2110”.

The term “hsa-miR-6076 gene” or “hsa-miR-6076” used herein includes the hsa-miR-6076 gene (miRBase Accession No. MIMAT0023701) described in SEQ ID NO: 134, a homolog or an ortholog of a different organism species, and the like. The hsa-miR-6076 gene can be obtained by a method described in Voellenkle C et al., 2012, RNA, Vol. 18, p. 472-484. Also, “hsa-mir-6076” (miRBase Accession No. MI0020353, SEQ ID NO: 285) having a hairpin-like structure is known as a precursor of “hsa-miR-6076”.

The term “hsa-miR-3619-3p gene” or “hsa-miR-3619-3p” used herein includes the hsa-miR-3619-3p gene (miRBase Accession No. MIMAT0019219) described in SEQ ID NO: 135, a homolog or an ortholog of a different organism species, and the like. The hsa-miR-3619-3p gene can be obtained by a method described in Witten D et al., 2010, BMC Biol, Vol. 8, p. 58. Also, “hsa-mir-3619” (miRBase Accession No. MI0016009, SEQ ID NO: 286) having a hairpin-like structure is known as a precursor of “hsa-miR-3619-3p”.

The term “hsa-miR-92a-2-5p gene” or “hsa-miR-92a-2-5p” used herein includes the hsa-miR-92a-2-5p gene (miRBase Accession No. MIMAT0004508) described in SEQ ID NO: 136, a homolog or an ortholog of a different organism species, and the like. The hsa-miR-92a-2-5p gene can be obtained by a method described in Mourelatos Z et al., 2002, Genes Dev, Vol. 16, p. 720-728. Also, “hsa-mir-92a-2” (miRBase Accession No. MI0000094, SEQ ID NO: 287) having a hairpin-like structure is known as a precursor of “hsa-miR-92a-2-5p”.

The term “hsa-miR-128-1-5p gene” or “hsa-miR-128-1-5p” used herein includes the hsa-miR-128-1-5p gene (miRBase Accession No. MIMAT0026477) described in SEQ ID NO: 137, a homolog or an ortholog of a different organism species, and the like. The hsa-miR-128-1-5p gene can be obtained by a method described in Lagos-Quintana M et al., 2002, Curr Biol, Vol. 12, p. 735-739. Also, “hsa-mir-128-1” (miRBase Accession No. MI0000447, SEQ ID NO: 288) having a hairpin-like structure is known as a precursor of “hsa-miR-128-1-5p”.

The term “hsa-miR-638 gene” or “hsa-miR-638” used herein includes the hsa-miR-638 gene (miRBase Accession No. MIMAT0003308) described in SEQ ID NO: 138, a homolog or an ortholog of a different organism species, and the like. The hsa-miR-638 gene can be obtained by a method described in Cummins J M et al., 2006, Proc Natl Acad Sci USA, Vol. 103, p. 3687-3692. Also, “hsa-mir-638” (miRBase Accession No. MI0003653, SEQ ID NO: 289) having a hairpin-like structure is known as a precursor of “hsa-miR-638”.

The term “hsa-miR-2861 gene” or “hsa-miR-2861” used herein includes the hsa-miR-2861 gene (miRBase Accession No. MIMAT0013802) described in SEQ ID NO: 139, a homolog or an ortholog of a different organism species, and the like. The hsa-miR-2861 gene can be obtained by a method described in Li H et al., 2009, J Clin Invest, Vol. 119, p. 3666-3677. Also, “hsa-mir-2861” (miRBase Accession No. MI0013006, SEQ ID NO: 290) having a hairpin-like structure is known as a precursor of “hsa-miR-2861”.

The term “hsa-miR-371a-5p gene” or “hsa-miR-371a-5p” used herein includes the hsa-miR-371a-5p gene (miRBase Accession No. MIMAT0004687) described in SEQ ID NO: 140, a homolog or an ortholog of a different organism species, and the like. The hsa-miR-371a-5p gene can be obtained by a method described in Suh M R et al., 2004, Dev Biol, Vol. 270, p. 488-498. Also, “hsa-mir-371a” (miRBase Accession No. MI0000779, SEQ ID NO: 291) having a hairpin-like structure is known as a precursor of “hsa-miR-371a-5p”.

The term “hsa-miR-211-3p gene” or “hsa-miR-211-3p” used herein includes the hsa-miR-211-3p gene (miRBase Accession No. MIMAT0022694) described in SEQ ID NO: 141, a homolog or an ortholog of a different organism species, and the like. The hsa-miR-211-3p gene can be obtained by a method described in Lim L P et al., 2003, Science, Vol. 299, p. 1540. Also, “hsa-mir-211” (miRBase Accession No. MI0000287, SEQ ID NO: 292) having a hairpin-like structure is known as a precursor of “hsa-miR-211-3p”.

The term “hsa-miR-1273g-3p gene” or “hsa-miR-1273g-3p” used herein includes the hsa-miR-1273g-3p gene (miRBase Accession No. MIMAT0022742) described in SEQ ID NO: 142, a homolog or an ortholog of a different organism species, and the like. The hsa-miR-1273g-3p gene can be obtained by a method described in Reshmi G et al., 2011, Genomics, Vol. 97, p. 333-340. Also, “hsa-mir-1273g” (miRBase Accession No. MI0018003, SEQ ID NO: 293) having a hairpin-like structure is known as a precursor of “hsa-miR-1273g-3p”.

The term “hsa-miR-1203 gene” or “hsa-miR-1203” used herein includes the hsa-miR-1203 gene (miRBase Accession No. MIMAT0005866) described in SEQ ID NO: 143, a homolog or an ortholog of a different organism species, and the like. The hsa-miR-1203 gene can be obtained by a method described in Marton S et al., 2008, Leukemia, Vol. 22, p. 330-338. Also, “hsa-mir-1203” (miRBase Accession No. MI0006335, SEQ ID NO: 294) having a hairpin-like structure is known as a precursor of “hsa-miR-1203”.

The term “hsa-miR-122-5p gene” or “hsa-miR-122-5p” used herein includes the hsa-miR-122-5p gene (miRBase Accession No. MIMAT0000421) described in SEQ ID NO: 144, a homolog or an ortholog of a different organism species, and the like. The hsa-miR-122-5p gene can be obtained by a method described in Lagos-Quintana M et al., 2002, Curr Biol, Vol. 12, p. 735-739. Also, “hsa-mir-122” (miRBase Accession No. MI0000442, SEQ ID NO: 295) having a hairpin-like structure is known as a precursor of “hsa-miR-122-5p”.

The term “hsa-miR-4258 gene” or “hsa-miR-4258” used herein includes the hsa-miR-4258 gene (miRBase Accession No. MIMAT0016879) described in SEQ ID NO: 145, a homolog or an ortholog of a different organism species, and the like. The hsa-miR-4258 gene can be obtained by a method described in Goff L A et al., 2009, PLoS One, Vol. 4, e7192. Also, “hsa-mir-4258” (miRBase Accession No. MI0015857, SEQ ID NO: 296) having a hairpin-like structure is known as a precursor of “hsa-miR-4258”.

The term “hsa-miR-4484 gene” or “hsa-miR-4484” used herein includes the hsa-miR-4484 gene (miRBase Accession No. MIMAT0019018) described in SEQ ID NO: 146, a homolog or an ortholog of a different organism species, and the like. The hsa-miR-4484 gene can be obtained by a method described in Jima D D et al., 2010, Blood, Vol. 116, e118-e127. Also, “hsa-mir-4484” (miRBase Accession No. MI0016845, SEQ ID NO: 297) having a hairpin-like structure is known as a precursor of “hsa-miR-4484”.

The term “hsa-miR-4648 gene” or “hsa-miR-4648” used herein includes the hsa-miR-4648 gene (miRBase Accession No. MIMAT0019710) described in SEQ ID NO: 147, a homolog or an ortholog of a different organism species, and the like. The hsa-miR-4648 gene can be obtained by a method described in Persson H et al., 2011, Cancer Res, Vol. 71, p. 78-86. Also, “hsa-mir-4648” (miRBase Accession No. MI0017275, SEQ ID NO: 298) having a hairpin-like structure is known as a precursor of “hsa-miR-4648”.

The term “hsa-miR-6780b-5p gene” or “hsa-miR-6780b-5p” used herein includes the hsa-miR-6780b-5p gene (miRBase Accession No. MIMAT0027572) described in SEQ ID NO: 148, a homolog or an ortholog of a different organism species, and the like. The hsa-miR-6780b-5p gene can be obtained by a method described in Ladewig E et al., 2012, Genome Res, Vol. 22, p. 1634-1645. Also, “hsa-mir-6780b” (miRBase Accession No. MI0022681, SEQ ID NO: 299) having a hairpin-like structure is known as a precursor of “hsa-miR-6780b-5p”.

The term “hsa-miR-4516 gene” or “hsa-miR-4516” used herein includes the hsa-miR-4516 gene (miRBase Accession No. MIMAT0019053) described in SEQ ID NO: 466, a homolog or an ortholog of a different organism species, and the like. The hsa-miR-4516 gene can be obtained by a method described in Jima D D et al., 2010, Blood., Vol. 116, p. e118-e127. Also, “hsa-mir-4516” (miRBase Accession No. MI0016882, SEQ ID NO: 479) having a hairpin-like structure is known as a precursor of “hsa-miR-4516”.

The term “hsa-miR-4649-5p gene” or “hsa-miR-4649-5p” used herein includes the hsa-miR-4649-5p gene (miRBase Accession No. MIMAT0019711) described in SEQ ID NO: 467, a homolog or an ortholog of a different organism species, and the like. The hsa-miR-4649-5p gene can be obtained by a method described in Persson H et al., 2011, Cancer Res., Vol. 71, p. 78-86. Also, “hsa-mir-4649” (miRBase Accession No. MI0017276, SEQ ID NO: 480) having a hairpin-like structure is known as a precursor of “hsa-miR-4649-5p”.

The term “hsa-miR-760 gene” or “hsa-miR-760” used herein includes the hsa-miR-760 gene (miRBase Accession No. MIMAT0004957) described in SEQ ID NO: 468, a homolog or an ortholog of a different organism species, and the like. The hsa-miR-760 gene can be obtained by a method described in Berezikov E et al., 2006, Genome Res., Vol. 16, p. 289-1298. Also, “hsa-mir-760” (miRBase Accession No. MI0005567, SEQ ID NO: 481) having a hairpin-like structure is known as a precursor of “hsa-miR-760”.

The term “hsa-miR-3162-5p gene” or “hsa-miR-3162-5p” used herein includes the hsa-miR-3162-5p gene (miRBase Accession No. MIMAT0015036) described in SEQ ID NO: 469, a homolog or an ortholog of a different organism species, and the like. The hsa-miR-3162-5p gene can be obtained by a method described in Stark M S et al., 2010, PLoS One., Vol. 5, e9685. Also, “hsa-mir-3162” (miRBase Accession No. MI0014192, SEQ ID NO: 482) having a hairpin-like structure is known as a precursor of “hsa-miR-3162-5p”.

The term “hsa-miR-3178 gene” or “hsa-miR-3178” used herein includes the hsa-miR-3178 gene (miRBase Accession No. MIMAT0015055) described in SEQ ID NO: 470, a homolog or an ortholog of a different organism species, and the like. The hsa-miR-3178 gene can be obtained by a method described in Stark M S et al., 2010, PLoS One., Vol. 5, e9685. Also, “hsa-mir-3178” (miRBase Accession No. MI0014212, SEQ ID NO: 483) having a hairpin-like structure is known as a precursor of “hsa-miR-3178”.

The term “hsa-miR-940 gene” or “hsa-miR-940” used herein includes the hsa-miR-940 gene (miRBase Accession No. MIMAT0004983) described in SEQ ID NO: 471, a homolog or an ortholog of a different organism species, and the like. The hsa-miR-940 gene can be obtained by a method described in Lui W O et al., 2007, Cancer Res., Vol. 67, p. 6031-6043. Also, “hsa-mir-940” (miRBase Accession No. MI0005762, SEQ ID NO: 484) having a hairpin-like structure is known as a precursor of “hsa-miR-940”.

The term “hsa-miR-4271 gene” or “hsa-miR-4271” used herein includes the hsa-miR-4271 gene (miRBase Accession No. MIMAT0016901) described in SEQ ID NO: 472, a homolog or an ortholog of a different organism species, and the like. The hsa-miR-4271 gene can be obtained by a method described in Goff L A et al., 2009, PLoS One., Vol. 4, e7192. Also, “hsa-mir-4271” (miRBase Accession No. MI0015879, SEQ ID NO: 485) having a hairpin-like structure is known as a precursor of “hsa-miR-4271”.

The term “hsa-miR-6769b-5p gene” or “hsa-miR-6769b-5p” used herein includes the hsa-miR-6769b-5p gene (miRBase Accession No. MIMAT0027620) described in SEQ ID NO: 473, a homolog or an ortholog of a different organism species, and the like. The hsa-miR-6769b-5p gene can be obtained by a method described in Ladewig E et al., 2012, Genome Res., Vol. 22, p. 1634-1645. Also, “hsa-mir-6769b” (miRBase Accession No. MI0022706, SEQ ID NO: 486) having a hairpin-like structure is known as a precursor of “hsa-miR-6769b-5p”.

The term “hsa-miR-4508 gene” or “hsa-miR-4508” used herein includes the hsa-miR-4508 gene (miRBase Accession No. MIMAT0019045) described in SEQ ID NO: 474, a homolog or an ortholog of a different organism species, and the like. The hsa-miR-4508 gene can be obtained by a method described in Jima D D et al., 2010, Blood., Vol. 116, e118-e127. Also, “hsa-mir-4508” (miRBase Accession No. MI0016872, SEQ ID NO: 487) having a hairpin-like structure is known as a precursor of “hsa-miR-4508”.

The term “hsa-miR-6826-5p gene” or “hsa-miR-6826-5p” used herein includes the hsa-miR-6826-5p gene (miRBase Accession No. MIMAT0027552) described in SEQ ID NO: 475, a homolog or an ortholog of a different organism species, and the like. The hsa-miR-6826-5p gene can be obtained by a method described in Ladewig E et al., 2012, Genome Res., Vol. 22, p. 1634-1645. Also, “hsa-mir-6826” (miRBase Accession No. MI0022671, SEQ ID NO: 488) having a hairpin-like structure is known as a precursor of “hsa-miR-6826-5p”.

The term “hsa-miR-6757-5p gene” or “hsa-miR-6757-5p” used herein includes the hsa-miR-6757-5p gene (miRBase Accession No. MIMAT0027414) described in SEQ ID NO: 476, a homolog or an ortholog of a different organism species, and the like. The hsa-miR-6757-5p gene can be obtained by a method described in Ladewig E et al., 2012, Genome Res., Vol. 22, p. 1634-1645. Also, “hsa-mir-6757” (miRBase Accession No. MI0022602, SEQ ID NO: 489) having a hairpin-like structure is known as a precursor of “hsa-miR-6757-5p”.

The term “hsa-miR-3131 gene” or “hsa-miR-3131” used herein includes the hsa-miR-3131 gene (miRBase Accession No. MIMAT0014996) described in SEQ ID NO: 477, a homolog or an ortholog of a different organism species, and the like. The hsa-miR-3131 gene can be obtained by a method described in Stark M S et al., 2010, PLoS One., Vol. 5, e9685. Also, “hsa-mir-3131” (miRBase Accession No. MI0014151, SEQ ID NO: 490) having a hairpin-like structure is known as a precursor of “hsa-miR-3131”.

The term “hsa-miR-1343-3p gene” or “hsa-miR-1343-3p” used herein includes the hsa-miR-1343-3p gene (miRBase Accession No. MIMAT0019776) described in SEQ ID NO: 478, a homolog or an ortholog of a different organism species, and the like. The hsa-miR-1343-3p gene can be obtained by a method described in Persson H et al., 2011, Cancer Res., Vol. 71, p. 78-86. Also, “hsa-mir-1343” (miRBase Accession No. MI0017320, SEQ ID NO: 491) having a hairpin-like structure is known as a precursor of “hsa-miR-1343-3p”.

A mature miRNA may become a variant due to the sequence cleaved shorter or longer by one to several flanking nucleotides, or nucleotide substitution, when cleaved as the mature miRNA from its RNA precursor which has a hairpin-like structure. This variant is called isomiR (Morin R D. et al., 2008, Genome Research, Vol. 18, p. 610-621). miRBase Release 20 shows the nucleotide sequences represented by SEQ ID NOs: 1 to 148 and 466 to 478 as well as a large number of the nucleotide sequence variants and fragments represented by SEQ ID NOs: 300 to 465 and 492 to 509, called isomiRs. These variants can also be obtained as miRNAs having a nucleotide sequence represented by any of SEQ ID NOs: 1 to 148 and 466 to 478.

Specifically, among the variants of polynucleotides that consist of a nucleotide sequence represented by any of SEQ ID NOs: 1, 3, 4, 6, 14, 16, 17, 18, 22, 23, 24, 25, 30, 31, 34, 35, 37, 42, 43, 44, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 55, 57, 59, 61, 62, 66, 67, 69, 70, 72, 73, 75, 77, 79, 80, 82, 83, 84, 85, 86, 89, 90, 92, 94, 96, 99, 101, 102, 103, 104, 106, 107, 109, 110, 111, 112, 113, 115, 116, 120, 121, 122, 124, 130, 131, 132, 133, 136, 137, 138, 139, 140, 141, 142, 144, 146, 147, 466, 467, 468, 469, 470, 471, 474, 477, and 478, or a nucleotide sequence derived from the nucleotide sequence by the replacement of u with t according to the present invention, examples of the longest variants registered in miRBase Release 20 include polynucleotides represented by SEQ ID NOs: 300, 302, 304, 306, 308, 310, 312, 314, 316, 318, 320, 322, 324, 326, 328, 330, 332, 334, 336, 338, 340, 342, 344, 346, 348, 350, 352, 354, 356, 358, 360, 362, 364, 366, 368, 370, 372, 374, 376, 378, 380, 382, 384, 386, 388, 390, 392, 394, 396, 398, 400, 402, 404, 406, 408, 410, 412, 414, 416, 418, 420, 422, 424, 426, 428, 430, 432, 434, 436, 438, 440, 442, 444, 446, 448, 450, 452, 454, 456, 458, 460, 462, 464, 492, 494, 496, 498, 500, 502, 504, 506, and 508, respectively.

Also, among the variants of polynucleotides consisting of a nucleotide sequence represented by any of SEQ ID NOs: 1, 3, 4, 6, 14, 16, 17, 18, 22, 23, 24, 25, 30, 31, 34, 35, 37, 42, 43, 44, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 55, 57, 59, 61, 62, 66, 67, 69, 70, 72, 73, 75, 77, 79, 80, 82, 83, 84, 85, 86, 89, 90, 92, 94, 96, 99, 101, 102, 103, 104, 106, 107, 109, 110, 111, 112, 113, 115, 116, 120, 121, 122, 124, 130, 131, 132, 133, 136, 137, 138, 139, 140, 141, 142, 144, 146, 147, 466, 467, 468, 469, 470, 471, 474, 477, and 478, or a nucleotide sequence derived from the nucleotide sequence by the replacement of u with t according to the present invention, examples of the shortest variants registered in miRBase Release 20 include polynucleotides having sequences represented by SEQ ID NOs: 301, 303, 305, 307, 309, 311, 313, 315, 317, 319, 321, 323, 325, 327, 329, 331, 333, 335, 337, 339, 341, 343, 345, 347, 349, 351, 353, 355, 357, 359, 361, 363, 365, 367, 369, 371, 373, 375, 377, 379, 381, 383, 385, 387, 389, 391, 393, 395, 397, 399, 401, 403, 405, 407, 409, 411, 413, 415, 417, 419, 421, 423, 425, 427, 429, 431, 433, 435, 437, 439, 441, 443, 445, 447, 449, 451, 453, 455, 457, 459, 461, 463, 465, 493, 495, 497, 499, 501, 503, 505, 507, and 509, respectively. In addition to these variants and fragments, examples thereof include a large number of isomiR polynucleotides of SEQ ID NOs: 1, 3, 4, 6, 14, 16, 17, 18, 22, 23, 24, 25, 30, 31, 34, 35, 37, 42, 43, 44, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 55, 57, 59, 61, 62, 66, 67, 69, 70, 72, 73, 75, 77, 79, 80, 82, 83, 84, 85, 86, 89, 90, 92, 94, 96, 99, 101, 102, 103, 104, 106, 107, 109, 110, 111, 112, 113, 115, 116, 120, 121, 122, 124, 130, 131, 132, 133, 136, 137, 138, 139, 140, 141, 142, 144, 146 and 147 registered in miRBase. Examples of the polynucleotide comprising a nucleotide sequence represented by any of SEQ ID NOs: 1 to 148, 466 to 478 include a polynucleotide represented by any of SEQ ID NOs: 149 to 299, 479 to 491, which are their respective precursors.

The names and miRBase Accession Nos. (registration numbers) of the genes represented by SEQ ID NOs: 1 to 509 are shown in Table 1.

As used herein, the term “capable of specifically binding” means that the nucleic acid probe or the primer used in the present invention binds to a particular target nucleic acid and cannot substantially bind to other nucleic acids.

TABLE 1 SEQ ID miRBase NO: Gene name registration No. 1 hsa-miR-125a-3p MIMAT0004602 2 hsa-miR-6893-5p M1MAT0027686 3 hsa-miR-204-3p MIMAT0022693 4 hsa-miR-4476 M1MAT0019003 5 hsa-miR-4294 MIMAT0016849 6 hsa-miR-150-3p MIMAT0004610 7 hsa-miR-6729-5p M1MAT0027359 8 hsa-miR-7641 M1MAT0029782 9 hsa-miR-6765-3p M1MAT0027431 10 hsa-miR-6820-5p MIMAT0027540 11 hsa-miR-575 MIMAT0003240 12 hsa-miR-6836-3p MIMAT0027575 13 hsa-miR-1469 MIMAT0007347 14 hsa-miR-663a MIMAT0003326 15 hsa-miR-6075 MIMAT0023700 16 hsa-miR-4634 MIMAT0019691 17 hsa-miR-423-5p MIMAT0004748 18 hsa-miR-4454 MIMAT0018976 19 hsa-miR-7109-5p MIMAT0028115 20 hsa-miR-6789-5p MIMAT0027478 21 hsa-miR-6877-5p MIMAT0027654 22 hsa-miR-4792 MIMAT0019964 23 hsa-miR-4530 MIMAT0019069 24 hsa-miR-7975 MIMAT0031178 25 hsa-miR-6724-5p MIMAT0025856 26 hsa-miR-8073 MIMAT0031000 27 hsa-miR-7977 MIMAT0031180 28 hsa-miR-1231 MIMAT0005586 29 hsa-miR-6799-5p MIMAT0027498 30 hsa-miR-615-5p MIMAT0004804 31 hsa-miR-4450 MIMAT0018971 32 hsa-miR-6726-5p MIMAT0027353 33 hsa-miR-6875-5p MIMAT0027650 34 hsa-miR-4734 MIMAT0019859 35 hsa-miR-16-5p MIMAT0000069 36 hsa-miR-602 MIMAT0003270 37 hsa-miR-4651 MIMAT0019715 38 hsa-miR-8069 MIMAT0030996 39 hsa-miR-1238-5p MIMAT0022947 40 hsa-miR-6880-5p MIMAT0027660 41 hsa-miR-8072 MIMAT0030999 42 hsa-miR-4723-5p MIMAT0019838 43 hsa-miR-4732-5p MIMAT0019855 44 hsa-miR-6125 MIMAT0024598 45 hsa-miR-6090 MIMAT0023715 46 hsa-miR-7114-5p MIMAT0028125 47 hsa-miR-564 MIMAT0003228 48 hsa-miR-451a MIMAT0001631 49 hsa-miR-3135b MIMAT0018985 50 hsa-miR-4497 MIMAT0019032 51 hsa-miR-4665-5p MIMAT0019739 52 hsa-miR-3622a-5p MIMAT0018003 53 hsa-miR-6850-5p MIMAT0027600 54 hsa-miR-6821-5p MIMAT0027542 55 hsa-miR-5100 MIMAT0022259 56 hsa-miR-6872-3p MIMAT0027645 57 hsa-miR-4433-3p MIMAT0018949 58 hsa-miR-1227-5p MIMAT0022941 59 hsa-miR-3188 MIMAT0015070 60 hsa-miR-7704 MIMAT0030019 61 hsa-miR-3185 MIMAT0015065 62 hsa-miR-1908-3p MIMAT0026916 63 hsa-miR-6781-5p MIMAT0027462 64 hsa-miR-6805-5p MIMAT0027510 65 hsa-miR-8089 MIMAT0031016 66 hsa-miR-665 MIMAT0004952 67 hsa-miR-4486 MIMAT0019020 68 hsa-miR-6722-3p MIMAT0025854 69 hsa-miR- 1260a MIMAT0005911 70 hsa-miR-4707-5p MIMAT0019807 71 hsa-miR-6741-5p MIMAT0027383 72 hsa-miR-1260b MIMAT0015041 73 hsa-miR-1246 MIMAT0005898 74 hsa-miR-6845-5p MIMAT0027590 75 hsa-miR-4638-5p MIMAT0019695 76 hsa-miR-6085 MIMAT0023710 77 hsa-miR-1228-3p MIMAT0005583 78 hsa-miR-4534 MIMAT0019073 79 hsa-miR-5585-3p MIMAT0022286 80 hsa-miR-4741 MIMAT0019871 81 hsa-miR-4433b-3p MIMAT0030414 82 hsa-miR-197-5p MIMAT0022691 83 hsa-miR-718 MIMAT0012735 84 hsa-miR-4513 MIMAT0019050 85 hsa-miR-4446-3p MIMAT0018965 86 hsa-miR-619-5p MIMAT0026622 87 hsa-miR-6816-5p MIMAT0027532 88 hsa-miR-6778-5p MIMAT0027456 89 hsa-miR-24-3p MIMAT0000080 90 hsa-miR-1915-3p MIMAT0007892 91 hsa-miR-4665-3p MIMAT0019740 92 hsa-miR-4449 MIMAT0018968 93 hsa-miR-6889-5p MIMAT0027678 94 hsa-miR-486-3p MIMAT0004762 95 hsa-miR-7113-3p MIMAT0028124 96 hsa-miR-642a-3p MIMAT0020924 97 hsa-miR-7847-3p MIMAT0030422 98 hsa-miR-6768-5p MIMAT0027436 99 hsa-miR-1290 MIMAT0005880 100 hsa-miR-7108-5p MIMAT0028113 101 hsa-miR-92b-5p MIMAT0004792 102 hsa-miR-663b MIMAT0005867 103 hsa-miR-3940-5p MIMAT0019229 104 hsa-miR-4467 MIMAT0018994 105 hsa-miR-6858-5p MIMAT0027616 106 hsa-miR-4417 MIMAT0018929 107 hsa-miR-3665 MIMAT0018087 108 hsa-miR-4736 MIMAT0019862 109 hsa-miR-4687-3p MIMAT0019775 110 hsa-miR-1908-5p MIMAT0007881 111 hsa-miR-5195-3p MIMAT0021127 112 hsa-miR-4286 MIMAT0016916 113 hsa-miR-3679-3p MIMAT0018105 114 hsa-miR-6791-5p MIMAT0027482 115 hsa-miR-1202 MIMAT0005865 116 hsa-miR-3656 MIMAT0018076 117 hsa-miR-4746-3p MIMAT0019881 118 hsa-miR-3184-5p MIMAT0015064 119 hsa-miR-3937 MIMAT0018352 120 hsa-miR-6515-3p MIMAT0025487 121 hsa-miR-6132 MIMAT0024616 122 hsa-miR-187-5p MIMAT0004561 123 hsa-miR-7111-5p MIMAT0028119 124 hsa-miR-5787 MIMAT0023252 125 hsa-miR-6779-5p MIMAT0027458 126 hsa-miR-6808-5p MIMAT0027516 127 hsa-miR-6774-5p MIMAT0027448 128 hsa-miR-4656 MIMAT0019723 129 hsa-miR-6806-5p MIMAT0027512 130 hsa-miR-1233-5p MIMAT0022943 131 hsa-miR-328-5p MIMAT0026486 132 hsa-miR-4674 MIMAT0019756 133 hsa-miR-2110 MIMAT0010133 134 hsa-miR-6076 MIMAT0023701 135 hsa-miR-3619-3p MIMAT0019219 136 hsa-miR-92a-2-5p MIMAT0004508 137 hsa-miR-128-1-5p MIMAT0026477 138 hsa-miR-638 MIMAT0003308 139 hsa-miR-2861 MIMAT0013802 140 hsa-miR-371a-5p MIMAT0004687 141 hsa-miR-211-3p MIMAT0022694 142 hsa-miR-1273g-3p MIMAT0022742 143 hsa-miR-1203 MIMAT0005866 144 hsa-miR-122-5p MIMAT0000421 145 hsa-miR-4258 MIMAT0016879 146 hsa-m iR-4484 MIMAT0019018 147 hsa-miR-4648 MIMAT0019710 148 hsa-miR-6780b-5p MIMAT0027572 149 hsa-mir-125a MI0000469 150 hsa-mir-6893 MI0022740 151 hsa-mir-204 MI0000284 152 hsa-mir-4476 MI0016828 153 hsa-mir-4294 MI0015827 154 hsa-mir-150 MI0000479 155 hsa-mir-6729 MI0022574 156 hsa-mir-7641-1 MI0024975 157 hsa-mir-7641-2 MI0024976 158 hsa-mir-6765 MI0022610 159 hsa-mir-6820 MI0022665 160 hsa-mir-575 MI0003582 161 hsa-mir-6836 MI0022682 162 hsa-mir-1469 MI0007074 163 hsa-mir-663a MI0003672 164 hsa-mir-6075 MI0020352 165 hsa-mir-4634 MI0017261 166 hsa-mir-423 MI0001445 167 hsa-mir-4454 MI0016800 168 hsa-mir-7109 MI0022960 169 hsa-mir-6789 MI0022634 170 hsa-mir-6877 MI0022724 171 hsa-mir-4792 MI0017439 172 hsa-mir-4530 MI0016897 173 hsa-mir-7975 MI0025751 174 hsa-mir-6724 MI0022559 175 hsa-mir-8073 MI0025909 176 hsa-mir-7977 MI0025753 177 hsa-mir-1231 MI0006321 178 hsa-mir-6799 MI0022644 179 hsa-mir-615 MI0003628 180 hsa-mir-4450 MI0016795 181 hsa-mir-6726 MI0022571 182 hsa-mir-6875 MI0022722 183 hsa-mir-4734 MI0017371 184 hsa-mir-16-1 MI0000070 185 hsa-mir-16-2 MI0000115 186 hsa-mir-602 MI0003615 187 hsa-mir-4651 MI0017279 188 hsa-mir-8069 MI0025905 189 hsa-mir-1238 MI0006328 190 hsa-mir-6880 M10022727 191 hsa-mir-8072 MI0025908 192 hsa-mir-4723 MI0017359 193 hsa-mir-4732 MI0017369 194 hsa-mir-6125 MI0021259 195 hsa-mir-6090 MI0020367 196 hsa-mir-7114 MI0022965 197 hsa-mir-564 MI0003570 198 hsa-mir-451a MI0001729 199 hsa-mir-3135b MI0016809 200 hsa-mir-4497 MI0016859 201 hsa-mir-4665 MI0017295 202 hsa-mir-3622a MI0016013 203 hsa-mir-6850 MI0022696 204 hsa-mir-6821 MI0022666 205 hsa-mir-5100 MI0019116 206 hsa-mir-6872 MI0022719 207 hsa-mir-4433 MI0016773 208 hsa-mir-1227 MI0006316 209 hsa-mir-3188 MI0014232 210 hsa-mir-7704 MI0025240 211 hsa-mir-3185 MI0014227 212 hsa-mir-1908 MI0008329 213 hsa-mir-6781 MI0022626 214 hsa-mir-6805 MI0022650 215 hsa-mir-8089 MI0025925 216 hsa-mir-665 MI0005563 217 hsa-mir-4486 MI0016847 218 hsa-mir-6722 MI0022557 219 hsa-mir-1260a MI0006394 220 hsa-mir-4707 MI0017340 221 hsa-mir-6741 MI0022586 222 hsa-mir-1260b MI0014197 223 hsa-mir-1246 MI0006381 224 hsa-mir-6845 M10022691 225 hsa-mir-4638 MI0017265 226 hsa-mir-6085 MI0020362 227 hsa-mir-1228 MI0006318 228 hsa-mir-4534 MI0016901 229 hsa-mir-5585 MI0019142 230 hsa-mir-4741 MI0017379 231 hsa-mir-4433b MI0025511 232 hsa-mir-197 MI0000239 233 hsa-mir-718 MI0012489 234 hsa-mir-4513 MI0016879 235 hsa-mir-4446 MI0016789 236 hsa-mir-619 MI0003633 237 hsa-mir-6816 MI0022661 238 hsa-mir-6778 MI0022623 239 hsa-mir-24-1 MI0000080 240 hsa-mir-24-2 MI0000081 241 hsa-mir-1915 MI0008336 242 hsa-mir-4449 MI0016792 243 hsa-mir-6889 MI0022736 244 hsa-mir-486 MI0002470 245 hsa-mir-486-2 MI0023622 246 hsa-mir-7113 MI0022964 247 hsa-mir-642a MI0003657 248 hsa-mir-7847 MI0025517 249 hsa-mir-6768 MI0022613 250 hsa-mir-1290 MI0006352 251 hsa-mir-7108 MI0022959 252 hsa-mir-92b MI0003560 253 hsa-mir-663b MI0006336 254 hsa-mir-3940 MI0016597 255 hsa-mir-4467 MI0016818 256 hsa-mir-6858 MI0022704 257 hsa-mir-4417 MI0016753 258 hsa-mir-3665 MI0016066 259 hsa-mir-4736 MI0017373 260 hsa-mir-4687 MI0017319 261 hsa-mir-5195 MI0018174 262 hsa-mir-4286 MI0015894 263 hsa-mir-3679 MI0016080 264 hsa-mir-6791 MI0022636 265 hsa-mir-1202 MI0006334 266 hsa-mir-3656 MI0016056 267 hsa-mir-4746 MI0017385 268 hsa-mir-3184 MI0014226 269 hsa-mir-3937 MI0016593 270 hsa-mir-6515 MI0022227 271 hsa-mir-6132 MI0021277 272 hsa-mir-187 MI0000274 273 hsa-mir-7111 MI0022962 274 hsa-mir-5787 MI0019797 275 hsa-mir-6779 MI0022624 276 hsa-mir-6808 MI0022653 277 hsa-mir-6774 MI0022619 278 hsa-mir-4656 MI0017284 279 hsa-mir-6806 MI0022651 280 hsa-mir-1233-1 MI0006323 281 hsa-mir-1233-2 MI0015973 282 hsa-mir-328 MI0000804 283 hsa-mir-4674 MI0017305 284 hsa-mir-2110 MI0010629 285 hsa-mir-6076 MI0020353 286 hsa-mir-3619 MI0016009 287 hsa-mir-92a-2 MI0000094 288 hsa-mir-128-1 MI0000447 289 hsa-mir-638 MI0003653 290 hsa-mir-2861 MI0013006 291 hsa-mir-371a MI0000779 292 hsa-mir-211 MI0000287 293 hsa-mir-1273g MI0018003 294 hsa-mir-1203 MI0006335 295 hsa-mir-122 MI0000442 296 hsa-mir-4258 MI0015857 297 hsa-mir-4484 MI0016845 298 hsa-mir-4648 MI0017275 299 hsa-mir-6780b MI0022681 300 isomiR example 1 of SEQ ID NO: 1 — 301 isomiR example 2 of SEQ ID NO: 1 — 302 isomiR example 1 of SEQ ID NO: 3 — 303 isomiR example 2 of SEQ ID NO: 3 — 304 isomiR example 1 of SEQ ID NO: 4 — 305 isomiR example 2 of SEQ ID NO: 4 — 306 isomiR example 1 of SEQ ID NO: 6 — 307 isomiR example 2 of SEQ ID NO: 6 — 308 isomiR example 1 of SEQ ID NO: 14 — 309 isomiR example 2 of SEQ ID NO: 14 — 310 isomiR example 1 of SEQ ID NO: 16 — 311 isomiR example 2 of SEQ ID NO: 16 — 312 isomiR example 1 of SEQ ID NO: 17 — 313 isomiR example 2 of SEQ ID NO: 17 — 314 isomiR example 1 of SEQ ID NO: 18 — 315 isomiR example 2 of SEQ ID NO: 18 — 316 isomiR example 1 of SEQ ID NO: 22 — 317 isomiR example 2 of SEQ ID NO: 22 — 318 isomiR example 1 of SEQ ID NO: 23 — 319 isomiR example 2 of SEQ ID NO: 23 — 320 isomiR example 1 of SEQ ID NO: 24 — 321 isomiR example 2 of SEQ ID NO: 24 — 322 isomiR example 1 of SEQ ID NO: 25 — 323 isomiR example 2 of SEQ ID NO: 25 — 324 isomiR example 1 of SEQ ID NO: 30 — 325 isomiR example 2 of SEQ ID NO: 30 — 326 isomiR example 1 of SEQ ID NO: 31 — 327 isomiR example 2 of SEQ ID NO: 31 — 328 isomiR example 1 of SEQ ID NO: 34 — 329 isomiR example 2 of SEQ ID NO: 34 — 330 isomiR example 1 of SEQ ID NO: 35 — 331 isomiR example 2 of SEQ ID NO: 35 — 332 isomiR example 1 of SEQ ID NO: 37 — 333 isomiR example 2 of SEQ ID NO: 37 — 334 isomiR example 1 of SEQ ID NO: 42 — 335 isomiR example 2 of SEQ ID NO: 42 — 336 isomiR example 1 of SEQ ID NO: 43 — 337 isomiR example 2 of SEQ ID NO: 43 — 338 isomiR example 1 of SEQ ID NO: 44 — 339 isomiR example 2 of SEQ ID NO: 44 — 340 isomiR example 1 of SEQ ID NO: 47 — 341 isomiR example 2 of SEQ ID NO: 47 — 342 isomiR example 1 of SEQ ID NO: 48 — 343 isomiR example 2 of SEQ ID NO: 48 — 344 isomiR example 1 of SEQ ID NO: 49 — 345 isomiR example 2 of SEQ ID NO: 49 — 346 isomiR example 1 of SEQ ID NO: 50 — 347 isomiR example 2 of SEQ ID NO: 50 — 348 isomiR example 1 of SEQ ID NO: 51 — 349 isomiR example 2 of SEQ ID NO: 51 — 350 isomiR example 1 of SEQ ID NO: 52 — 351 isomiR example 2 of SEQ ID NO: 52 — 352 isomiR example 1 of SEQ ID NO: 55 — 353 isomiR example 2 of SEQ ID NO: 55 — 354 isomiR example 1 of SEQ ID NO: 57 — 355 isomiR example 2 of SEQ ID NO: 57 — 356 isomiR example 1 of SEQ ID NO: 59 — 357 isomiR example 2 of SEQ ID NO: 59 — 358 isomiR example 1 of SEQ ID NO: 61 — 359 isomiR example 2 of SEQ ID NO: 61 — 360 isomiR example 1 of SEQ ID NO: 62 — 361 isomiR example 2 of SEQ ID NO: 62 — 362 isomiR example 1 of SEQ ID NO: 66 — 363 isomiR example 2 of SEQ ID NO: 66 — 364 isomiR example 1 of SEQ ID NO: 67 — 365 isomiR example 2 of SEQ ID NO: 67 — 366 isomiR example 1 of SEQ ID NO: 69 — 367 isomiR example 2 of SEQ ID NO: 69 — 368 isomiR example 1 of SEQ ID NO: 70 — 369 isomiR example 2 of SEQ ID NO: 70 — 370 isomiR example 1 of SEQ ID NO: 72 — 371 isomiR example 2 of SEQ ID NO: 72 — 372 isomiR example 1 of SEQ ID NO: 73 — 373 isomiR example 2 of SEQ ID NO: 73 — 374 isomiR example 1 of SEQ ID NO: 75 — 375 isomiR example 2 of SEQ ID NO: 75 — 376 isomiR example 1 of SEQ ID NO: 77 — 377 isomiR example 2 of SEQ ID NO: 77 — 378 isomiR example 1 of SEQ ID NO: 79 — 379 isomiR example 2 of SEQ ID NO: 79 — 380 isomiR example 1 of SEQ ID NO: 80 — 381 isomiR example 2 of SEQ ID NO: 80 — 382 isomiR example 1 of SEQ ID NO: 82 — 383 isomiR example 2 of SEQ ID NO: 82 — 384 isomiR example 1 of SEQ ID NO: 83 — 385 isomiR example 2 of SEQ ID NO: 83 — 386 isomiR example 1 of SEQ ID NO: 84 — 387 isomiR example 2 of SEQ ID NO: 84 — 388 isomiR example 1 of SEQ ID NO: 85 — 389 isomiR example 2 of SEQ ID NO: 85 — 390 isomiR example 1 of SEQ ID NO: 86 — 391 isomiR example 2 of SEQ ID NO: 86 — 392 isomiR example 1 of SEQ ID NO: 89 — 393 isomiR example 2 of SEQ ID NO: 89 — 394 isomiR example 1 of SEQ ID NO: 90 — 395 isomiR example 2 of SEQ ID NO: 90 — 396 isomiR example 1 of SEQ ID NO: 92 — 397 isomiR example 2 of SEQ ID NO: 92 — 398 isomiR example 1 of SEQ ID NO: 94 — 399 isomiR example 2 of SEQ ID NO: 94 — 400 isomiR example 1 of SEQ ID NO: 96 — 401 isomiR example 2 of SEQ ID NO: 96 — 402 isomiR example 1 of SEQ ID NO: 99 — 403 isomiR example 2 of SEQ ID NO: 99 — 404 isomiR example 1 of SEQ ID NO: 101 — 405 isomiR example 2 of SEQ ID NO: 101 — 406 isomiR example 1 of SEQ ID NO: 102 — 407 isomiR example 2 of SEQ ID NO: 102 — 408 isomiR example 1 of SEQ ID NO: 103 — 409 isomiR example 2 of SEQ ID NO: 103 — 410 isomiR example 1 of SEQ ID NO: 104 — 411 isomiR example 2 of SEQ ID NO: 104 — 412 isomiR example 1 of SEQ ID NO: 106 — 413 isomiR example 2 of SEQ ID NO: 106 — 414 isomiR example 1 of SEQ ID NO: 107 — 415 isomiR example 2 of SEQ ID NO: 107 — 416 isomiR example 1 of SEQ ID NO: 109 — 417 isomiR example 2 of SEQ ID NO: 109 — 418 isomiR example 1 of SEQ ID NO: 110 — 419 isomiR example 2 of SEQ ID NO: 110 — 420 isomiR example 1 of SEQ ID NO: 111 — 421 isomiR example 2 of SEQ ID NO: 111 — 422 isomiR example 1 of SEQ ID NO: 112 — 423 isomiR example 2 of SEQ ID NO: 112 — 424 isomiR example 1 of SEQ ID NO: 113 — 425 isomiR example 2 of SEQ ID NO: 113 — 426 isomiR example 1 of SEQ ID NO: 115 — 427 isomiR example 2 of SEQ ID NO: 115 — 428 isomiR example 1 of SEQ ID NO: 116 — 429 isomiR example 2 of SEQ ID NO: 116 — 430 isomiR example 1 of SEQ ID NO: 120 — 431 isomiR example 2 of SEQ ID NO: 120 — 432 isomiR example 1 of SEQ ID NO: 121 — 433 isomiR example 2 of SEQ ID NO: 121 — 434 isomiR example 1 of SEQ ID NO: 122 — 435 isomiR example 2 of SEQ ID NO: 122 — 436 isomiR example 1 of SEQ ID NO: 124 — 437 isomiR example 2 of SEQ ID NO: 124 — 438 isomiR example 1 of SEQ ID NO: 130 — 439 isomiR example 2 of SEQ ID NO: 130 — 440 isomiR example 1 of SEQ ID NO: 131 — 441 isomiR example 2 of SEQ ID NO: 131 — 442 isomiR example 1 of SEQ ID NO: 132 — 443 isomiR example 2 of SEQ ID NO: 132 — 444 isomiR example 1 of SEQ ID NO: 133 — 445 isomiR example 2 of SEQ ID NO: 133 — 446 isomiR example 1 of SEQ ID NO: 136 — 447 isomiR example 2 of SEQ ID NO: 136 — 448 isomiR example 1 of SEQ ID NO: 137 — 449 isomiR example 2 of SEQ ID NO: 137 — 450 isomiR example 1 of SEQ ID NO: 138 — 451 isomiR example 2 of SEQ ID NO: 138 — 452 isomiR example 1 of SEQ ID NO: 139 — 453 isomiR example 2 of SEQ ID NO: 139 — 454 isomiR example 1 of SEQ ID NO: 140 — 455 isomiR example 2 of SEQ ID NO: 140 — 456 isomiR example 1 of SEQ ID NO: 141 — 457 isomiR example 2 of SEQ ID NO: 141 — 458 isomiR example 1 of SEQ ID NO: 142 — 459 isomiR example 2 of SEQ ID NO: 142 — 460 isomiR example 1 of SEQ ID NO: 144 — 461 isomiR example 2 of SEQ ID NO: 144 — 462 isomiR example 1 of SEQ ID NO: 146 — 463 isomiR example 2 of SEQ ID NO: 146 — 464 isomiR example 1 of SEQ ID NO: 147 — 465 isomiR example 2 of SEQ ID NO: 147 — 466 hsa-miR-4516 MIMAT0019053 467 hsa-miR-4649-5p MIMAT0019711 468 hsa-miR-760 MIMAT0004957 469 hsa-miR-3162-5p MIMAT0015036 470 hsa-miR-3178 MIMAT0015055 471 hsa-miR-940 MIMAT0004983 472 hsa-miR-4271 MIMAT0016901 473 hsa-miR-6769b-5p MIMAT0027620 474 hsa-miR-4508 MIMAT0019045 475 hsa-miR-6826-5p MIMAT0027552 476 hsa-miR-6757-5p MIMAT0027414 477 hsa-miR-3131 MIMAT0014996 478 hsa-miR-1343-3p MIMAT0019776 479 hsa-mir-4516 MI0016882 480 hsa-mir-4649 MI0017276 481 hsa-mir-760 MI0005567 482 hsa-mir-3162 MI0014192 483 hsa-mir-3178 MI0014212 484 hsa-mir-940 MI0005762 485 hsa-mir-4271 MI0015879 486 hsa-mir-6769b MI0022706 487 hsa-mir-4508 MI0016872 488 hsa-mir-6826 MI0022671 489 hsa-mir-6757 MI0022602 490 hsa-mir-3131 MI0014151 491 hsa-mir-1343 MI0017320 492 isomiR example 1 of SEQ ID NO: 479 — 493 isomiR example 2 of SEQ ID NO: 479 — 494 isomiR example 1 of SEQ ID NO: 480 — 495 isomiR example 2 of SEQ ID NO: 480 — 496 isomiR example 1 of SEQ ID NO: 481 — 497 isomiR example 2 of SEQ ID NO: 481 — 498 isomiR example 1 of SEQ ID NO: 482 — 499 isomiR example 2 of SEQ ID NO: 482 — 500 isomiR example 1 of SEQ ID NO: 483 — 501 isomiR example 2 of SEQ ID NO: 483 — 502 isomiR example 1 of SEQ ID NO: 484 — 503 isomiR example 2 of SEQ ID NO: 484 — 504 isomiR example 1 of SEQ ID NO: 487 — 505 isomiR example 2 of SEQ ID NO: 487 — 506 isomiR example 1 of SEQ ID NO: 490 — 507 isomiR example 2 of SEQ ID NO: 490 — 508 isomiR example 1 of SEQ ID NO: 491 — 509 isomiR example 2 of SEQ ID NO: 491  

The present specification encompasses the contents described in the specifications and drawings of Japanese Patent Application Nos. 2014-120884 and 2014-185733 on which the priority of the present application is based.

Advantageous Effects of Invention

According to the present invention, biliary tract cancer can be detected easily and highly accurately. For example, the presence or absence of biliary tract cancer in a patient can be easily detected by using, as an indicator, the measurement values of several miRNAs in blood, serum, and/or plasma of the patient, which can be collected with limited invasiveness.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 This figure shows the relationship between the nucleotide sequences of hsa-miR-4665-5p represented by SEQ ID NO: 51 and hsa-miR-4665-3p represented by SEQ ID NO: 91, which are produced from a precursor hsa-mir-4665 represented by SEQ ID NO: 201.

FIG. 2 Left diagram: the measurement values of hsa-miR-125a-3p (SEQ ID NO: 1) in healthy subjects (100 persons) and biliary tract cancer patients (67 persons) selected as a training cohort were each plotted on the ordinate. The horizontal line in the diagram depicts a threshold (5.69) that was optimized by Fisher's linear discriminant analysis and discriminated between the two groups. Right diagram: the measurement values of hsa-miR-125a-3p (SEQ ID NO: 1) in healthy subjects (50 persons) and biliary tract cancer patients (33 persons) selected as a validation cohort were each plotted on the ordinate. The horizontal line in the diagram depicts the threshold (5.69) that was set in the training cohort and discriminated between the two groups.

FIG. 3 Left diagram: the measurement values of hsa-miR-6893-5p (SEQ ID NO: 2) in healthy subjects (100 persons, circles) and biliary tract cancer patients (67 persons, triangles) selected as a training cohort were each plotted on the abscissa against their measurement values of hsa-miR-4476 (SEQ ID NO: 4) on the ordinate. The line in the diagram depicts a discriminant function (0=5.16x+y+48.11) that was optimized by Fisher's linear discriminant analysis and discriminated between the two groups. Right diagram: the measurement values of hsa-miR-6893-5p (SEQ ID NO: 2) in healthy subjects (50 persons, circles) and biliary tract cancer patients (33 persons, triangles) selected as a validation cohort were each plotted on the abscissa against their measurement values of hsa-miR-4476 (SEQ ID NO: 4) on the ordinate. The line in the diagram depicts the threshold (0=5.16x+y+48.11) that was set in the training cohort and discriminated between the two groups.

FIG. 4 Upper diagram: a discriminant (−1.25×hsa-miR-6075-1.06×hsa-miR-6836-3p+0.53×hsa-miR-6799-5p+0.18×hsa-miR-125a-3p+15.41) was prepared by use of Fisher's linear discriminant analysis from the measurement values of hsa-miR-6075 (SEQ ID NO: 15), hsa-miR-6836-3p (SEQ ID NO: 12), hsa-miR-6799-5p (SEQ ID NO: 29), and hsa-miR-125a-3p (SEQ ID NO: 1) in 67 biliary tract cancer patients, 93 healthy subjects, 35 colorectal cancer patients, 37 stomach cancer patients, 32 esophageal cancer patients, 38 liver cancer patients, and 13 benign pancreaticobiliary disease patients selected in a training cohort, and discriminant scores obtained from the discriminant were plotted on the ordinate against the sample groups on the abscissa. The dotted line in the diagram depicts a discriminant boundary that offered a discriminant score of 0 and discriminated between the groups. Lower diagram: discriminant scores obtained from the discriminant prepared from the training cohort as to the measurement values of hsa-miR-6075 (SEQ ID NO:15), hsa-miR-6836-3p (SEQ ID NO: 12), hsa-miR-6799-5p (SEQ ID NO: 29), hsa-miR-125a-3p (SEQ ID NO: 1) in 33 biliary tract cancer patients, 57 healthy subjects, 15 colorectal cancer patients, 13 stomach cancer patients, 18 esophageal cancer patients, 12 liver cancer patients, and 8 benign pancreaticobiliary disease patients selected as a validation cohort were plotted on the ordinate against the sample groups on the abscissa. The dotted line in the diagram depicts the discriminant boundary that offered a discriminant score of 0 and discriminated between the two groups.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

Hereinafter, the present invention will be further described specifically.

1. Target Nucleic Acid for Biliary Tract Cancer

A primary target nucleic acid as a biliary tract cancer marker for detecting the presence and/or absence of biliary tract cancer or biliary tract cancer cells using the nucleic acid probe or the primer for the detection of biliary tract cancer defined above according to the present invention can be at least one or more miRNA(s) selected from the group consisting of hsa-miR-125a-3p, hsa-miR-6893-5p, hsa-miR-204-3p, hsa-miR-4476, hsa-miR-4294, hsa-miR-150-3p, hsa-miR-6729-5p, hsa-miR-7641, hsa-miR-6765-3p, hsa-miR-6820-5p, hsa-miR-575, hsa-miR-6836-3p, hsa-miR-1469, hsa-miR-663a, hsa-miR-6075, hsa-miR-4634, hsa-miR-423-5p, hsa-miR-4454, hsa-miR-7109-5p, hsa-miR-6789-5p, hsa-miR-6877-5p, hsa-miR-4792, hsa-miR-4530, hsa-miR-7975, hsa-miR-6724-5p, hsa-miR-8073, hsa-miR-7977, hsa-miR-1231, hsa-miR-6799-5p, hsa-miR-615-5p, hsa-miR-4450, hsa-miR-6726-5p, hsa-miR-6875-5p, hsa-miR-4734, hsa-miR-16-5p, hsa-miR-602, hsa-miR-4651, hsa-miR-8069, hsa-miR-1238-5p, hsa-miR-6880-5p, hsa-miR-8072, hsa-miR-4723-5p, hsa-miR-4732-5p, hsa-miR-6125, hsa-miR-6090, hsa-miR-7114-5p, hsa-miR-564, hsa-miR-451a, hsa-miR-3135b, hsa-miR-4497, hsa-miR-4665-5p, hsa-miR-3622a-5p, hsa-miR-6850-5p, hsa-miR-6821-5p, hsa-miR-5100, hsa-miR-6872-3p, hsa-miR-4433-3p, hsa-miR-1227-5p, hsa-miR-3188, hsa-miR-7704, hsa-miR-3185, hsa-miR-1908-3p, hsa-miR-6781-5p, hsa-miR-6805-5p, hsa-miR-8089, hsa-miR-665, hsa-miR-4486, hsa-miR-6722-3p, hsa-miR-1260a, hsa-miR-4707-5p, hsa-miR-6741-5p, hsa-miR-1260b, hsa-miR-1246, hsa-miR-6845-5p, hsa-miR-4638-5p, hsa-miR-6085, hsa-miR-1228-3p, hsa-miR-4534, hsa-miR-5585-3p, hsa-miR-4741, hsa-miR-4433b-3p, hsa-miR-197-5p, hsa-miR-718, hsa-miR-4513, hsa-miR-4446-3p, hsa-miR-619-5p, hsa-miR-6816-5p, hsa-miR-6778-5p, hsa-miR-24-3p, hsa-miR-1915-3p, hsa-miR-4665-3p, hsa-miR-4449, hsa-miR-6889-5p, hsa-miR-486-3p, hsa-miR-7113-3p, hsa-miR-642a-3p, hsa-miR-7847-3p, hsa-miR-6768-5p, hsa-miR-1290, hsa-miR-7108-5p, hsa-miR-92b-5p, hsa-miR-663b, hsa-miR-3940-5p, hsa-miR-4467, hsa-miR-6858-5p, hsa-miR-4417, hsa-miR-3665, hsa-miR-4736, hsa-miR-4687-3p, hsa-miR-1908-5p, hsa-miR-5195-3p, hsa-miR-4286, hsa-miR-3679-3p, hsa-miR-6791-5p, hsa-miR-1202, hsa-miR-3656, hsa-miR-4746-3p, hsa-miR-3184-5p, hsa-miR-3937, hsa-miR-6515-3p, hsa-miR-6132, hsa-miR-187-5p, hsa-miR-7111-5p, hsa-miR-5787, hsa-miR-6779-5p, hsa-miR-4516, hsa-miR-4649-5p, hsa-miR-760, hsa-miR-3162-5p, hsa-miR-3178, hsa-miR-940, hsa-miR-4271, hsa-miR-6769b-5p, hsa-miR-4508, hsa-miR-6826-5p, hsa-miR-6757-5p, hsa-miR-3131, and hsa-miR-1343-3p. Furthermore, at least one or more miRNA(s) selected from the group consisting of other biliary tract cancer markers that can be combined with these miRNAs, i.e., hsa-miR-6808-5p, hsa-miR-6774-5p, hsa-miR-4656, hsa-miR-6806-5p, hsa-miR-1233-5p, hsa-miR-328-5p, hsa-miR-4674, hsa-miR-2110, hsa-miR-6076, hsa-miR-3619-3p, hsa-miR-92a-2-5p, hsa-miR-128-1-5p, hsa-miR-638, hsa-miR-2861, hsa-miR-371a-5p, hsa-miR-211-3p, hsa-miR-1273g-3p, hsa-miR-1203, hsa-miR-122-5p, hsa-miR-4258, hsa-miR-4484, hsa-miR-4648 and hsa-miR-6780b-5p can also be preferably used as a target nucleic acid.

These miRNAs include, for example, a human gene comprising a nucleotide sequence represented by any of SEQ ID NOs: 1 to 148, 466 to 478 (i.e., hsa-miR-125a-3p, hsa-miR-6893-5p, hsa-miR-204-3p, hsa-miR-4476, hsa-miR-4294, hsa-miR-150-3p, hsa-miR-6729-5p, hsa-miR-7641, hsa-miR-6765-3p, hsa-miR-6820-5p, hsa-miR-575, hsa-miR-6836-3p, hsa-miR-1469, hsa-miR-663a, hsa-miR-6075, hsa-miR-4634, hsa-miR-423-5p, hsa-miR-4454, hsa-miR-7109-5p, hsa-miR-6789-5p, hsa-miR-6877-5p, hsa-miR-4792, hsa-miR-4530, hsa-miR-7975, hsa-miR-6724-5p, hsa-miR-8073, hsa-miR-7977, hsa-miR-1231, hsa-miR-6799-5p, hsa-miR-615-5p, hsa-miR-4450, hsa-miR-6726-5p, hsa-miR-6875-5p, hsa-miR-4734, hsa-miR-16-5p, hsa-miR-602, hsa-miR-4651, hsa-miR-8069, hsa-miR-1238-5p, hsa-miR-6880-5p, hsa-miR-8072, hsa-miR-4723-5p, hsa-miR-4732-5p, hsa-miR-6125, hsa-miR-6090, hsa-miR-7114-5p, hsa-miR-564, hsa-miR-451a, hsa-miR-3135b, hsa-miR-4497, hsa-miR-4665-5p, hsa-miR-3622a-5p, hsa-miR-6850-5p, hsa-miR-6821-5p, hsa-miR-5100, hsa-miR-6872-3p, hsa-miR-4433-3p, hsa-miR-1227-5p, hsa-miR-3188, hsa-miR-7704, hsa-miR-3185, hsa-miR-1908-3p, hsa-miR-6781-5p, hsa-miR-6805-5p, hsa-miR-8089, hsa-miR-665, hsa-miR-4486, hsa-miR-6722-3p, hsa-miR-1260a, hsa-miR-4707-5p, hsa-miR-6741-5p, hsa-miR-1260b, hsa-miR-1246, hsa-miR-6845-5p, hsa-miR-4638-5p, hsa-miR-6085, hsa-miR-1228-3p, hsa-miR-4534, hsa-miR-5585-3p, hsa-miR-4741, hsa-miR-4433b-3p, hsa-miR-197-5p, hsa-miR-718, hsa-miR-4513, hsa-miR-4446-3p, hsa-miR-619-5p, hsa-miR-6816-5p, hsa-miR-6778-5p, hsa-miR-24-3p, hsa-miR-1915-3p, hsa-miR-4665-3p, hsa-miR-4449, hsa-miR-6889-5p, hsa-miR-486-3p, hsa-miR-7113-3p, hsa-miR-642a-3p, hsa-miR-7847-3p, hsa-miR-6768-5p, hsa-miR-1290, hsa-miR-7108-5p, hsa-miR-92b-5p, hsa-miR-663b, hsa-miR-3940-5p, hsa-miR-4467, hsa-miR-6858-5p, hsa-miR-4417, hsa-miR-3665, hsa-miR-4736, hsa-miR-4687-3p, hsa-miR-1908-5p, hsa-miR-5195-3p, hsa-miR-4286, hsa-miR-3679-3p, hsa-miR-6791-5p, hsa-miR-1202, hsa-miR-3656, hsa-miR-4746-3p, hsa-miR-3184-5p, hsa-miR-3937, hsa-miR-6515-3p, hsa-miR-6132, hsa-miR-187-5p, hsa-miR-7111-5p, hsa-miR-5787, hsa-miR-6779-5p, hsa-miR-6808-5p, hsa-miR-6774-5p, hsa-miR-4656, hsa-miR-6806-5p, hsa-miR-1233-5p, hsa-miR-328-5p, hsa-miR-4674, hsa-miR-2110, hsa-miR-6076, hsa-miR-3619-3p, hsa-miR-92a-2-5p, hsa-miR-128-1-5p, hsa-miR-638, hsa-miR-2861, hsa-miR-371a-5p, hsa-miR-211-3p, hsa-miR-1273g-3p, hsa-miR-1203, hsa-miR-122-5p, hsa-miR-4258, hsa-miR-4484, hsa-miR-4648, hsa-miR-6780b-5p, hsa-miR-4516, hsa-miR-4649-5p, hsa-miR-760, hsa-miR-3162-5p, hsa-miR-3178, hsa-miR-940, hsa-miR-4271, hsa-miR-6769b-5p, hsa-miR-4508, hsa-miR-6826-5p, hsa-miR-6757-5p, hsa-miR-3131, and hsa-miR-1343-3p, respectively), a congener thereof, a transcript thereof, and a variant or a derivative thereof. In this context, the gene, the congener, the transcript, the variant, and the derivative are as defined above.

The target nucleic acid is preferably a human gene comprising a nucleotide sequence represented by any of SEQ ID NOs: 1 to 509 or a transcript thereof, more preferably the transcript, i.e., a miRNA or its precursor RNA (pri-miRNA or pre-miRNA).

The first target gene is the hsa-miR-125a-3p gene, a congener thereof, a transcript thereof, or a variant or a derivative thereof. None of the previously known reports show that change in the expression of the gene or the transcript thereof can serve as a marker for biliary tract cancer.

The second target gene is the hsa-miR-6893-5p gene, a congener thereof, a transcript thereof, or a variant or a derivative thereof. None of the previously known reports show that change in the expression of the gene or the transcript thereof can serve as a marker for biliary tract cancer.

The third target gene is the hsa-miR-204-3p gene, a congener thereof, a transcript thereof, or a variant or a derivative thereof. None of the previously known reports show that change in the expression of the gene or the transcript thereof can serve as a marker for biliary tract cancer.

The fourth target gene is the hsa-miR-4476 gene, a congener thereof, a transcript thereof, or a variant or a derivative thereof. None of the previously known reports show that change in the expression of the gene or the transcript thereof can serve as a marker for biliary tract cancer.

The fifth target gene is the hsa-miR-4294 gene, a congener thereof, a transcript thereof, or a variant or a derivative thereof. None of the previously known reports show that change in the expression of the gene or the transcript thereof can serve as a marker for biliary tract cancer.

The sixth target gene is the hsa-miR-150-3p gene, a congener thereof, a transcript thereof, or a variant or a derivative thereof. None of the previously known reports show that change in the expression of the gene or the transcript thereof can serve as a marker for biliary tract cancer.

The seventh target gene is the hsa-miR-6729-5p gene, a congener thereof, a transcript thereof, or a variant or a derivative thereof. None of the previously known reports show that change in the expression of the gene or the transcript thereof can serve as a marker for biliary tract cancer.

The eighth target gene is the hsa-miR-7641 gene, a congener thereof, a transcript thereof, or a variant or a derivative thereof. None of the previously known reports show that change in the expression of the gene or the transcript thereof can serve as a marker for biliary tract cancer.

The ninth target gene is the hsa-miR-6765-3p gene, a congener thereof, a transcript thereof, or a variant or a derivative thereof. None of the previously known reports show that change in the expression of the gene or the transcript thereof can serve as a marker for biliary tract cancer.

The 10th target gene is the hsa-miR-6820-5p gene, a congener thereof, a transcript thereof, or a variant or a derivative thereof. None of the previously known reports show that change in the expression of the gene or the transcript thereof can serve as a marker for biliary tract cancer.

The 11th target gene is the hsa-miR-575 gene, a congener thereof, a transcript thereof, or a variant or a derivative thereof. None of the previously known reports show that change in the expression of the gene or the transcript thereof can serve as a marker for biliary tract cancer.

The 12th target gene is the hsa-miR-6836-3p gene, a congener thereof, a transcript thereof, or a variant or a derivative thereof. None of the previously known reports show that change in the expression of the gene or the transcript thereof can serve as a marker for biliary tract cancer.

The 13th target gene is the hsa-miR-1469 gene, a congener thereof, a transcript thereof, or a variant or a derivative thereof. None of the previously known reports show that change in the expression of the gene or the transcript thereof can serve as a marker for biliary tract cancer.

The 14th target gene is the hsa-miR-663a gene, a congener thereof, a transcript thereof, or a variant or a derivative thereof. None of the previously known reports show that change in the expression of the gene or the transcript thereof can serve as a marker for biliary tract cancer.

The 15th target gene is the hsa-miR-6075 gene, a congener thereof, a transcript thereof, or a variant or a derivative thereof. None of the previously known reports show that change in the expression of the gene or the transcript thereof can serve as a marker for biliary tract cancer.

The 16th target gene is the hsa-miR-4634 gene, a congener thereof, a transcript thereof, or a variant or a derivative thereof. None of the previously known reports show that change in the expression of the gene or the transcript thereof can serve as a marker for biliary tract cancer.

The 17th target gene is the hsa-miR-423-5p gene, a congener thereof, a transcript thereof, or a variant or a derivative thereof. None of the previously known reports show that change in the expression of the gene or the transcript thereof can serve as a marker for biliary tract cancer.

The 18th target gene is the hsa-miR-4454 gene, a congener thereof, a transcript thereof, or a variant or a derivative thereof. None of the previously known reports show that change in the expression of the gene or the transcript thereof can serve as a marker for biliary tract cancer.

The 19th target gene is the hsa-miR-7109-5p gene, a congener thereof, a transcript thereof, or a variant or a derivative thereof. None of the previously known reports show that change in the expression of the gene or the transcript thereof can serve as a marker for biliary tract cancer.

The 20th target gene is the hsa-miR-6789-5p gene, a congener thereof, a transcript thereof, or a variant or a derivative thereof. None of the previously known reports show that change in the expression of the gene or the transcript thereof can serve as a marker for biliary tract cancer.

The 21st target gene is the hsa-miR-6877-5p gene, a congener thereof, a transcript thereof, or a variant or a derivative thereof. None of the previously known reports show that change in the expression of the gene or the transcript thereof can serve as a marker for biliary tract cancer.

The 22nd target gene is the hsa-miR-4792 gene, a congener thereof, a transcript thereof, or a variant or a derivative thereof. None of the previously known reports show that change in the expression of the gene or the transcript thereof can serve as a marker for biliary tract cancer.

The 23rd target gene is the hsa-miR-4530 gene, a congener thereof, a transcript thereof, or a variant or a derivative thereof. None of the previously known reports show that change in the expression of the gene or the transcript thereof can serve as a marker for biliary tract cancer.

The 24th target gene is the hsa-miR-7975 gene, a congener thereof, a transcript thereof, or a variant or a derivative thereof. None of the previously known reports show that change in the expression of the gene or the transcript thereof can serve as a marker for biliary tract cancer.

The 25th target gene is the hsa-miR-6724-5p gene, a congener thereof, a transcript thereof, or a variant or a derivative thereof. None of the previously known reports show that change in the expression of the gene or the transcript thereof can serve as a marker for biliary tract cancer.

The 26th target gene is the hsa-miR-8073 gene, a congener thereof, a transcript thereof, or a variant or a derivative thereof. None of the previously known reports show that change in the expression of the gene or the transcript thereof can serve as a marker for biliary tract cancer.

The 27th target gene is the hsa-miR-7977 gene, a congener thereof, a transcript thereof, or a variant or a derivative thereof. None of the previously known reports show that change in the expression of the gene or the transcript thereof can serve as a marker for biliary tract cancer.

The 28th target gene is the hsa-miR-1231 gene, a congener thereof, a transcript thereof, or a variant or a derivative thereof. None of the previously known reports show that change in the expression of the gene or the transcript thereof can serve as a marker for biliary tract cancer.

The 29th target gene is the hsa-miR-6799-5p gene, a congener thereof, a transcript thereof, or a variant or a derivative thereof. None of the previously known reports show that change in the expression of the gene or the transcript thereof can serve as a marker for biliary tract cancer.

The 30th target gene is the hsa-miR-615-5p gene, a congener thereof, a transcript thereof, or a variant or a derivative thereof. None of the previously known reports show that change in the expression of the gene or the transcript thereof can serve as a marker for biliary tract cancer.

The 31st target gene is the hsa-miR-4450 gene, a congener thereof, a transcript thereof, or a variant or a derivative thereof. None of the previously known reports show that change in the expression of the gene or the transcript thereof can serve as a marker for biliary tract cancer.

The 32nd target gene is the hsa-miR-6726-5p gene, a congener thereof, a transcript thereof, or a variant or a derivative thereof. None of the previously known reports show that change in the expression of the gene or the transcript thereof can serve as a marker for biliary tract cancer.

The 33rd target gene is the hsa-miR-6875-5p gene, a congener thereof, a transcript thereof, or a variant or a derivative thereof. None of the previously known reports show that change in the expression of the gene or the transcript thereof can serve as a marker for biliary tract cancer.

The 34th target gene is the hsa-miR-4734 gene, a congener thereof, a transcript thereof, or a variant or a derivative thereof. None of the previously known reports show that change in the expression of the gene or the transcript thereof can serve as a marker for biliary tract cancer.

The 35th target gene is the hsa-miR-16-5p gene, a congener thereof, a transcript thereof, or a variant or a derivative thereof. None of the previously known reports show that change in the expression of the gene or the transcript thereof can serve as a marker for biliary tract cancer.

The 36th target gene is the hsa-miR-602 gene, a congener thereof, a transcript thereof, or a variant or a derivative thereof. None of the previously known reports show that change in the expression of the gene or the transcript thereof can serve as a marker for biliary tract cancer.

The 37th target gene is the hsa-miR-4651 gene, a congener thereof, a transcript thereof, or a variant or a derivative thereof. None of the previously known reports show that change in the expression of the gene or the transcript thereof can serve as a marker for biliary tract cancer.

The 38th target gene is the hsa-miR-8069 gene, a congener thereof, a transcript thereof, or a variant or a derivative thereof. None of the previously known reports show that change in the expression of the gene or the transcript thereof can serve as a marker for biliary tract cancer.

The 39th target gene is the hsa-miR-1238-5p gene, a congener thereof, a transcript thereof, or a variant or a derivative thereof. None of the previously known reports show that change in the expression of the gene or the transcript thereof can serve as a marker for biliary tract cancer.

The 40th target gene is the hsa-miR-6880-5p gene, a congener thereof, a transcript thereof, or a variant or a derivative thereof. None of the previously known reports show that change in the expression of the gene or the transcript thereof can serve as a marker for biliary tract cancer.

The 41st target gene is the hsa-miR-8072 gene, a congener thereof, a transcript thereof, or a variant or a derivative thereof. None of the previously known reports show that change in the expression of the gene or the transcript thereof can serve as a marker for biliary tract cancer.

The 42nd target gene is the hsa-miR-4723-5p gene, a congener thereof, a transcript thereof, or a variant or a derivative thereof. None of the previously known reports show that change in the expression of the gene or the transcript thereof can serve as a marker for biliary tract cancer.

The 43rd target gene is the hsa-miR-4732-5p gene, a congener thereof, a transcript thereof, or a variant or a derivative thereof. None of the previously known reports show that change in the expression of the gene or the transcript thereof can serve as a marker for biliary tract cancer.

The 44th target gene is the hsa-miR-6125 gene, a congener thereof, a transcript thereof, or a variant or a derivative thereof. None of the previously known reports show that change in the expression of the gene or the transcript thereof can serve as a marker for biliary tract cancer.

The 45th target gene is the hsa-miR-6090 gene, a congener thereof, a transcript thereof, or a variant or a derivative thereof. None of the previously known reports show that change in the expression of the gene or the transcript thereof can serve as a marker for biliary tract cancer.

The 46th target gene is the hsa-miR-7114-5p gene, a congener thereof, a transcript thereof, or a variant or a derivative thereof. None of the previously known reports show that change in the expression of the gene or the transcript thereof can serve as a marker for biliary tract cancer.

The 47th target gene is the hsa-miR-564 gene, a congener thereof, a transcript thereof, or a variant or a derivative thereof. None of the previously known reports show that change in the expression of the gene or the transcript thereof can serve as a marker for biliary tract cancer.

The 48th target gene is the hsa-miR-451a gene, a congener thereof, a transcript thereof, or a variant or a derivative thereof. None of the previously known reports show that change in the expression of the gene or the transcript thereof can serve as a marker for biliary tract cancer.

The 49th target gene is the hsa-miR-3135b gene, a congener thereof, a transcript thereof, or a variant or a derivative thereof. None of the previously known reports show that change in the expression of the gene or the transcript thereof can serve as a marker for biliary tract cancer.

The 50th target gene is the hsa-miR-4497 gene, a congener thereof, a transcript thereof, or a variant or a derivative thereof. None of the previously known reports show that change in the expression of the gene or the transcript thereof can serve as a marker for biliary tract cancer.

The 51st target gene is the hsa-miR-4665-5p gene, a congener thereof, a transcript thereof, or a variant or a derivative thereof. None of the previously known reports show that change in the expression of the gene or the transcript thereof can serve as a marker for biliary tract cancer.

The 52nd target gene is the hsa-miR-3622a-5p gene, a congener thereof, a transcript thereof, or a variant or a derivative thereof. None of the previously known reports show that change in the expression of the gene or the transcript thereof can serve as a marker for biliary tract cancer.

The 53rd target gene is the hsa-miR-6850-5p gene, a congener thereof, a transcript thereof, or a variant or a derivative thereof. None of the previously known reports show that change in the expression of the gene or the transcript thereof can serve as a marker for biliary tract cancer.

The 54th target gene is the hsa-miR-6821-5p gene, a congener thereof, a transcript thereof, or a variant or a derivative thereof. None of the previously known reports show that change in the expression of the gene or the transcript thereof can serve as a marker for biliary tract cancer.

The 55th target gene is the hsa-miR-5100 gene, a congener thereof, a transcript thereof, or a variant or a derivative thereof. None of the previously known reports show that change in the expression of the gene or the transcript thereof can serve as a marker for biliary tract cancer.

The 56th target gene is the hsa-miR-6872-3p gene, a congener thereof, a transcript thereof, or a variant or a derivative thereof. None of the previously known reports show that change in the expression of the gene or the transcript thereof can serve as a marker for biliary tract cancer.

The 57th target gene is the hsa-miR-4433-3p gene, a congener thereof, a transcript thereof, or a variant or a derivative thereof. None of the previously known reports show that change in the expression of the gene or the transcript thereof can serve as a marker for biliary tract cancer.

The 58th target gene is the hsa-miR-1227-5p gene, a congener thereof, a transcript thereof, or a variant or a derivative thereof. None of the previously known reports show that change in the expression of the gene or the transcript thereof can serve as a marker for biliary tract cancer.

The 59th target gene is the hsa-miR-3188 gene, a congener thereof, a transcript thereof, or a variant or a derivative thereof. None of the previously known reports show that change in the expression of the gene or the transcript thereof can serve as a marker for biliary tract cancer.

The 60th target gene is the hsa-miR-7704 gene, a congener thereof, a transcript thereof, or a variant or a derivative thereof. None of the previously known reports show that change in the expression of the gene or the transcript thereof can serve as a marker for biliary tract cancer.

The 61st target gene is the hsa-miR-3185 gene, a congener thereof, a transcript thereof, or a variant or a derivative thereof. None of the previously known reports show that change in the expression of the gene or the transcript thereof can serve as a marker for biliary tract cancer.

The 62nd target gene is the hsa-miR-1908-3p gene, a congener thereof, a transcript thereof, or a variant or a derivative thereof. None of the previously known reports show that change in the expression of the gene or the transcript thereof can serve as a marker for biliary tract cancer.

The 63rd target gene is the hsa-miR-6781-5p gene, a congener thereof, a transcript thereof, or a variant or a derivative thereof. None of the previously known reports show that change in the expression of the gene or the transcript thereof can serve as a marker for biliary tract cancer.

The 64th target gene is the hsa-miR-6805-5p gene, a congener thereof, a transcript thereof, or a variant or a derivative thereof. None of the previously known reports show that change in the expression of the gene or the transcript thereof can serve as a marker for biliary tract cancer.

The 65th target gene is the hsa-miR-8089 gene, a congener thereof, a transcript thereof, or a variant or a derivative thereof. None of the previously known reports show that change in the expression of the gene or the transcript thereof can serve as a marker for biliary tract cancer.

The 66th target gene is the hsa-miR-665 gene, a congener thereof, a transcript thereof, or a variant or a derivative thereof. None of the previously known reports show that change in the expression of the gene or the transcript thereof can serve as a marker for biliary tract cancer.

The 67th target gene is the hsa-miR-4486 gene, a congener thereof, a transcript thereof, or a variant or a derivative thereof. None of the previously known reports show that change in the expression of the gene or the transcript thereof can serve as a marker for biliary tract cancer.

The 68th target gene is the hsa-miR-6722-3p gene, a congener thereof, a transcript thereof, or a variant or a derivative thereof. None of the previously known reports show that change in the expression of the gene or the transcript thereof can serve as a marker for biliary tract cancer.

The 69th target gene is the hsa-miR-1260a gene, a congener thereof, a transcript thereof, or a variant or a derivative thereof. None of the previously known reports show that change in the expression of the gene or the transcript thereof can serve as a marker for biliary tract cancer.

The 70th target gene is the hsa-miR-4707-5p gene, a congener thereof, a transcript thereof, or a variant or a derivative thereof. None of the previously known reports show that change in the expression of the gene or the transcript thereof can serve as a marker for biliary tract cancer.

The 71st target gene is the hsa-miR-6741-5p gene, a congener thereof, a transcript thereof, or a variant or a derivative thereof. None of the previously known reports show that change in the expression of the gene or the transcript thereof can serve as a marker for biliary tract cancer.

The 72nd target gene is the hsa-miR-1260b gene, a congener thereof, a transcript thereof, or a variant or a derivative thereof. None of the previously known reports show that change in the expression of the gene or the transcript thereof can serve as a marker for biliary tract cancer.

The 73rd target gene is the hsa-miR-1246 gene, a congener thereof, a transcript thereof, or a variant or a derivative thereof. None of the previously known reports show that change in the expression of the gene or the transcript thereof can serve as a marker for biliary tract cancer.

The 74th target gene is the hsa-miR-6845-5p gene, a congener thereof, a transcript thereof, or a variant or a derivative thereof. None of the previously known reports show that change in the expression of the gene or the transcript thereof can serve as a marker for biliary tract cancer.

The 75th target gene is the hsa-miR-4638-5p gene, a congener thereof, a transcript thereof, or a variant or a derivative thereof. None of the previously known reports show that change in the expression of the gene or the transcript thereof can serve as a marker for biliary tract cancer.

The 76th target gene is the hsa-miR-6085 gene, a congener thereof, a transcript thereof, or a variant or a derivative thereof. None of the previously known reports show that change in the expression of the gene or the transcript thereof can serve as a marker for biliary tract cancer.

The 77th target gene is the hsa-miR-1228-3p gene, a congener thereof, a transcript thereof, or a variant or a derivative thereof. None of the previously known reports show that change in the expression of the gene or the transcript thereof can serve as a marker for biliary tract cancer.

The 78th target gene is the hsa-miR-4534 gene, a congener thereof, a transcript thereof, or a variant or a derivative thereof. None of the previously known reports show that change in the expression of the gene or the transcript thereof can serve as a marker for biliary tract cancer.

The 79th target gene is the hsa-miR-5585-3p gene, a congener thereof, a transcript thereof, or a variant or a derivative thereof. None of the previously known reports show that change in the expression of the gene or the transcript thereof can serve as a marker for biliary tract cancer.

The 80th target gene is the hsa-miR-4741 gene, a congener thereof, a transcript thereof, or a variant or a derivative thereof. None of the previously known reports show that change in the expression of the gene or the transcript thereof can serve as a marker for biliary tract cancer.

The 81st target gene is the hsa-miR-4433b-3p gene, a congener thereof, a transcript thereof, or a variant or a derivative thereof. None of the previously known reports show that change in the expression of the gene or the transcript thereof can serve as a marker for biliary tract cancer.

The 82nd target gene is the hsa-miR-197-5p gene, a congener thereof, a transcript thereof, or a variant or a derivative thereof. None of the previously known reports show that change in the expression of the gene or the transcript thereof can serve as a marker for biliary tract cancer.

The 83rd target gene is the hsa-miR-718 gene, a congener thereof, a transcript thereof, or a variant or a derivative thereof. None of the previously known reports show that change in the expression of the gene or the transcript thereof can serve as a marker for biliary tract cancer.

The 84th target gene is the hsa-miR-4513 gene, a congener thereof, a transcript thereof, or a variant or a derivative thereof. None of the previously known reports show that change in the expression of the gene or the transcript thereof can serve as a marker for biliary tract cancer.

The 85th target gene is the hsa-miR-4446-3p gene, a congener thereof, a transcript thereof, or a variant or a derivative thereof. None of the previously known reports show that change in the expression of the gene or the transcript thereof can serve as a marker for biliary tract cancer.

The 86th target gene is the hsa-miR-619-5p gene, a congener thereof, a transcript thereof, or a variant or a derivative thereof. None of the previously known reports show that change in the expression of the gene or the transcript thereof can serve as a marker for biliary tract cancer.

The 87th target gene is the hsa-miR-6816-5p gene, a congener thereof, a transcript thereof, or a variant or a derivative thereof. None of the previously known reports show that change in the expression of the gene or the transcript thereof can serve as a marker for biliary tract cancer.

The 88th target gene is the hsa-miR-6778-5p gene, a congener thereof, a transcript thereof, or a variant or a derivative thereof. None of the previously known reports show that change in the expression of the gene or the transcript thereof can serve as a marker for biliary tract cancer.

The 89th target gene is the hsa-miR-24-3p gene, a congener thereof, a transcript thereof, or a variant or a derivative thereof. None of the previously known reports show that change in the expression of the gene or the transcript thereof can serve as a marker for biliary tract cancer.

The 90th target gene is the hsa-miR-1915-3p gene, a congener thereof, a transcript thereof, or a variant or a derivative thereof. None of the previously known reports show that change in the expression of the gene or the transcript thereof can serve as a marker for biliary tract cancer.

The 91st target gene is the hsa-miR-4665-3p gene, a congener thereof, a transcript thereof, or a variant or a derivative thereof. None of the previously known reports show that change in the expression of the gene or the transcript thereof can serve as a marker for biliary tract cancer.

The 92nd target gene is the hsa-miR-4449 gene, a congener thereof, a transcript thereof, or a variant or a derivative thereof. None of the previously known reports show that change in the expression of the gene or the transcript thereof can serve as a marker for biliary tract cancer.

The 93rd target gene is the hsa-miR-6889-5p gene, a congener thereof, a transcript thereof, or a variant or a derivative thereof. None of the previously known reports show that change in the expression of the gene or the transcript thereof can serve as a marker for biliary tract cancer.

The 94th target gene is the hsa-miR-486-3p gene, a congener thereof, a transcript thereof, or a variant or a derivative thereof. None of the previously known reports show that change in the expression of the gene or the transcript thereof can serve as a marker for biliary tract cancer.

The 95th target gene is the hsa-miR-7113-3p gene, a congener thereof, a transcript thereof, or a variant or a derivative thereof. None of the previously known reports show that change in the expression of the gene or the transcript thereof can serve as a marker for biliary tract cancer.

The 96th target gene is the hsa-miR-642a-3p gene, a congener thereof, a transcript thereof, or a variant or a derivative thereof. None of the previously known reports show that change in the expression of the gene or the transcript thereof can serve as a marker for biliary tract cancer.

The 97th target gene is the hsa-miR-7847-3p gene, a congener thereof, a transcript thereof, or a variant or a derivative thereof. None of the previously known reports show that change in the expression of the gene or the transcript thereof can serve as a marker for biliary tract cancer.

The 98th target gene is the hsa-miR-6768-5p gene, a congener thereof, a transcript thereof, or a variant or a derivative thereof. None of the previously known reports show that change in the expression of the gene or the transcript thereof can serve as a marker for biliary tract cancer.

The 99th target gene is the hsa-miR-1290 gene, a congener thereof, a transcript thereof, or a variant or a derivative thereof. None of the previously known reports show that change in the expression of the gene or the transcript thereof can serve as a marker for biliary tract cancer.

The 100th target gene is the hsa-miR-7108-5p gene, a congener thereof, a transcript thereof, or a variant or a derivative thereof. None of the previously known reports show that change in the expression of the gene or the transcript thereof can serve as a marker for biliary tract cancer.

The 101st target gene is the hsa-miR-92b-5p gene, a congener thereof, a transcript thereof, or a variant or a derivative thereof. None of the previously known reports show that change in the expression of the gene or the transcript thereof can serve as a marker for biliary tract cancer.

The 102nd target gene is the hsa-miR-663b gene, a congener thereof, a transcript thereof, or a variant or a derivative thereof. None of the previously known reports show that change in the expression of the gene or the transcript thereof can serve as a marker for biliary tract cancer.

The 103rd target gene is the hsa-miR-3940-5p gene, a congener thereof, a transcript thereof, or a variant or a derivative thereof. None of the previously known reports show that change in the expression of the gene or the transcript thereof can serve as a marker for biliary tract cancer.

The 104th target gene is the hsa-miR-4467 gene, a congener thereof, a transcript thereof, or a variant or a derivative thereof. None of the previously known reports show that change in the expression of the gene or the transcript thereof can serve as a marker for biliary tract cancer.

The 105th target gene is the hsa-miR-6858-5p gene, a congener thereof, a transcript thereof, or a variant or a derivative thereof. None of the previously known reports show that change in the expression of the gene or the transcript thereof can serve as a marker for biliary tract cancer.

The 106th target gene is the hsa-miR-4417 gene, a congener thereof, a transcript thereof, or a variant or a derivative thereof. None of the previously known reports show that change in the expression of the gene or the transcript thereof can serve as a marker for biliary tract cancer.

The 107th target gene is the hsa-miR-3665 gene, a congener thereof, a transcript thereof, or a variant or a derivative thereof. None of the previously known reports show that change in the expression of the gene or the transcript thereof can serve as a marker for biliary tract cancer.

The 108th target gene is the hsa-miR-4736 gene, a congener thereof, a transcript thereof, or a variant or a derivative thereof. None of the previously known reports show that change in the expression of the gene or the transcript thereof can serve as a marker for biliary tract cancer.

The 109th target gene is the hsa-miR-4687-3p gene, a congener thereof, a transcript thereof, or a variant or a derivative thereof. None of the previously known reports show that change in the expression of the gene or the transcript thereof can serve as a marker for biliary tract cancer.

The 110th target gene is the hsa-miR-1908-5p gene, a congener thereof, a transcript thereof, or a variant or a derivative thereof. None of the previously known reports show that change in the expression of the gene or the transcript thereof can serve as a marker for biliary tract cancer.

The 111th target gene is the hsa-miR-5195-3p gene, a congener thereof, a transcript thereof, or a variant or a derivative thereof. None of the previously known reports show that change in the expression of the gene or the transcript thereof can serve as a marker for biliary tract cancer.

The 112th target gene is the hsa-miR-4286 gene, a congener thereof, a transcript thereof, or a variant or a derivative thereof. None of the previously known reports show that change in the expression of the gene or the transcript thereof can serve as a marker for biliary tract cancer.

The 113th target gene is the hsa-miR-3679-3p gene, a congener thereof, a transcript thereof, or a variant or a derivative thereof. None of the previously known reports show that change in the expression of the gene or the transcript thereof can serve as a marker for biliary tract cancer.

The 114th target gene is the hsa-miR-6791-5p gene, a congener thereof, a transcript thereof, or a variant or a derivative thereof. None of the previously known reports show that change in the expression of the gene or the transcript thereof can serve as a marker for biliary tract cancer.

The 115th target gene is the hsa-miR-1202 gene, a congener thereof, a transcript thereof, or a variant or a derivative thereof. None of the previously known reports show that change in the expression of the gene or the transcript thereof can serve as a marker for biliary tract cancer.

The 116th target gene is the hsa-miR-3656 gene, a congener thereof, a transcript thereof, or a variant or a derivative thereof. None of the previously known reports show that change in the expression of the gene or the transcript thereof can serve as a marker for biliary tract cancer.

The 117th target gene is the hsa-miR-4746-3p gene, a congener thereof, a transcript thereof, or a variant or a derivative thereof. None of the previously known reports show that change in the expression of the gene or the transcript thereof can serve as a marker for biliary tract cancer.

The 118th target gene is the hsa-miR-3184-5p gene, a congener thereof, a transcript thereof, or a variant or a derivative thereof. None of the previously known reports show that change in the expression of the gene or the transcript thereof can serve as a marker for biliary tract cancer.

The 119th target gene is the hsa-miR-3937 gene, a congener thereof, a transcript thereof, or a variant or a derivative thereof. None of the previously known reports show that change in the expression of the gene or the transcript thereof can serve as a marker for biliary tract cancer.

The 120th target gene is the hsa-miR-6515-3p gene, a congener thereof, a transcript thereof, or a variant or a derivative thereof. None of the previously known reports show that change in the expression of the gene or the transcript thereof can serve as a marker for biliary tract cancer.

The 121st target gene is the hsa-miR-6132 gene, a congener thereof, a transcript thereof, or a variant or a derivative thereof. None of the previously known reports show that change in the expression of the gene or the transcript thereof can serve as a marker for biliary tract cancer.

The 122nd target gene is the hsa-miR-187-5p gene, a congener thereof, a transcript thereof, or a variant or a derivative thereof. None of the previously known reports show that change in the expression of the gene or the transcript thereof can serve as a marker for biliary tract cancer.

The 123rd target gene is the hsa-miR-7111-5p gene, a congener thereof, a transcript thereof, or a variant or a derivative thereof. None of the previously known reports show that change in the expression of the gene or the transcript thereof can serve as a marker for biliary tract cancer.

The 124th target gene is the hsa-miR-5787 gene, a congener thereof, a transcript thereof, or a variant or a derivative thereof. None of the previously known reports show that change in the expression of the gene or the transcript thereof can serve as a marker for biliary tract cancer.

The 125th target gene is the hsa-miR-6779-5p gene, a congener thereof, a transcript thereof, or a variant or a derivative thereof. None of the previously known reports show that change in the expression of the gene or the transcript thereof can serve as a marker for biliary tract cancer.

The 126th target gene is the hsa-miR-6808-5p gene, a congener thereof, a transcript thereof, or a variant or a derivative thereof. None of the previously known reports show that change in the expression of the gene or the transcript thereof can serve as a marker for biliary tract cancer.

The 127th target gene is the hsa-miR-6774-5p gene, a congener thereof, a transcript thereof, or a variant or a derivative thereof. None of the previously known reports show that change in the expression of the gene or the transcript thereof can serve as a marker for biliary tract cancer.

The 128th target gene is the hsa-miR-4656 gene, a congener thereof, a transcript thereof, or a variant or a derivative thereof. None of the previously known reports show that change in the expression of the gene or the transcript thereof can serve as a marker for biliary tract cancer.

The 129th target gene is the hsa-miR-6806-5p gene, a congener thereof, a transcript thereof, or a variant or a derivative thereof. None of the previously known reports show that change in the expression of the gene or the transcript thereof can serve as a marker for biliary tract cancer.

The 130th target gene is the hsa-miR-1233-5p gene, a congener thereof, a transcript thereof, or a variant or a derivative thereof. None of the previously known reports show that change in the expression of the gene or the transcript thereof can serve as a marker for biliary tract cancer.

The 131st target gene is the hsa-miR-328-5p gene, a congener thereof, a transcript thereof, or a variant or a derivative thereof. None of the previously known reports show that change in the expression of the gene or the transcript thereof can serve as a marker for biliary tract cancer.

The 132nd target gene is the hsa-miR-4674 gene, a congener thereof, a transcript thereof, or a variant or a derivative thereof. None of the previously known reports show that change in the expression of the gene or the transcript thereof can serve as a marker for biliary tract cancer.

The 133rd target gene is the hsa-miR-2110 gene, a congener thereof, a transcript thereof, or a variant or a derivative thereof. None of the previously known reports show that change in the expression of the gene or the transcript thereof can serve as a marker for biliary tract cancer.

The 134th target gene is the hsa-miR-6076 gene, a congener thereof, a transcript thereof, or a variant or a derivative thereof. None of the previously known reports show that change in the expression of the gene or the transcript thereof can serve as a marker for biliary tract cancer.

The 135th target gene is the hsa-miR-3619-3p gene, a congener thereof, a transcript thereof, or a variant or a derivative thereof. None of the previously known reports show that change in the expression of the gene or the transcript thereof can serve as a marker for biliary tract cancer.

The 136th target gene is the hsa-miR-92a-2-5p gene, a congener thereof, a transcript thereof, or a variant or a derivative thereof. None of the previously known reports show that change in the expression of the gene or the transcript thereof can serve as a marker for biliary tract cancer.

The 137th target gene is the hsa-miR-128-1-5p gene, a congener thereof, a transcript thereof, or a variant or a derivative thereof. None of the previously known reports show that change in the expression of the gene or the transcript thereof can serve as a marker for biliary tract cancer.

The 138th target gene is the hsa-miR-638 gene, a congener thereof, a transcript thereof, or a variant or a derivative thereof. None of the previously known reports show that change in the expression of the gene or the transcript thereof can serve as a marker for biliary tract cancer.

The 139th target gene is the hsa-miR-2861 gene, a congener thereof, a transcript thereof, or a variant or a derivative thereof. None of the previously known reports show that change in the expression of the gene or the transcript thereof can serve as a marker for biliary tract cancer.

The 140th target gene is the hsa-miR-371a-5p gene, a congener thereof, a transcript thereof, or a variant or a derivative thereof. None of the previously known reports show that change in the expression of the gene or the transcript thereof can serve as a marker for biliary tract cancer.

The 141st target gene is the hsa-miR-211-3p gene, a congener thereof, a transcript thereof, or a variant or a derivative thereof. None of the previously known reports show that change in the expression of the gene or the transcript thereof can serve as a marker for biliary tract cancer.

The 142nd target gene is the hsa-miR-1273g-3p gene, a congener thereof, a transcript thereof, or a variant or a derivative thereof. None of the previously known reports show that change in the expression of the gene or the transcript thereof can serve as a marker for biliary tract cancer.

The 143rd target gene is the hsa-miR-1203 gene, a congener thereof, a transcript thereof, or a variant or a derivative thereof. None of the previously known reports show that change in the expression of the gene or the transcript thereof can serve as a marker for biliary tract cancer.

The 144th target gene is the hsa-miR-122-5p gene, a congener thereof, a transcript thereof, or a variant or a derivative thereof. None of the previously known reports show that change in the expression of the gene or the transcript thereof can serve as a marker for biliary tract cancer.

The 145th target gene is the hsa-miR-4258 gene, a congener thereof, a transcript thereof, or a variant or a derivative thereof. None of the previously known reports show that change in the expression of the gene or the transcript thereof can serve as a marker for biliary tract cancer.

The 146th target gene is the hsa-miR-4484 gene, a congener thereof, a transcript thereof, or a variant or a derivative thereof. None of the previously known reports show that change in the expression of the gene or the transcript thereof can serve as a marker for biliary tract cancer.

The 147th target gene is the hsa-miR-4648 gene, a congener thereof, a transcript thereof, or a variant or a derivative thereof. None of the previously known reports show that change in the expression of the gene or the transcript thereof can serve as a marker for biliary tract cancer.

The 148th target gene is the hsa-miR-6780b-5p gene, a congener thereof, a transcript thereof, or a variant or a derivative thereof. None of the previously known reports show that change in the expression of the gene or the transcript thereof can serve as a marker for biliary tract cancer.

The 149th target gene is the hsa-miR-4516 gene, a congener thereof, a transcript thereof, or a variant or a derivative thereof. None of the previously known reports show that change in the expression of the gene or the transcript thereof can serve as a marker for biliary tract cancer.

The 150th target gene is the hsa-miR-4649-5p gene, a congener thereof, a transcript thereof, or a variant or a derivative thereof. None of the previously known reports show that change in the expression of the gene or the transcript thereof can serve as a marker for biliary tract cancer.

The 151st target gene is the hsa-miR-760 gene, a congener thereof, a transcript thereof, or a variant or a derivative thereof. None of the previously known reports show that change in the expression of the gene or the transcript thereof can serve as a marker for biliary tract cancer.

The 152nd target gene is the hsa-miR-3162-5p gene, a congener thereof, a transcript thereof, or a variant or a derivative thereof. None of the previously known reports show that change in the expression of the gene or the transcript thereof can serve as a marker for biliary tract cancer.

The 153rd target gene is the hsa-miR-3178 gene, a congener thereof, a transcript thereof, or a variant or a derivative thereof. None of the previously known reports show that change in the expression of the gene or the transcript thereof can serve as a marker for biliary tract cancer.

The 154th target gene is the hsa-miR-940 gene, a congener thereof, a transcript thereof, or a variant or a derivative thereof. None of the previously known reports show that change in the expression of the gene or the transcript thereof can serve as a marker for biliary tract cancer.

The 155th target gene is the hsa-miR-4271 gene, a congener thereof, a transcript thereof, or a variant or a derivative thereof. None of the previously known reports show that change in the expression of the gene or the transcript thereof can serve as a marker for biliary tract cancer.

The 156th target gene is the hsa-miR-6769b-5p gene, a congener thereof, a transcript thereof, or a variant or a derivative thereof. None of the previously known reports show that change in the expression of the gene or the transcript thereof can serve as a marker for biliary tract cancer.

The 157th target gene is the hsa-miR-4508 gene, a congener thereof, a transcript thereof, or a variant or a derivative thereof. None of the previously known reports show that change in the expression of the gene or the transcript thereof can serve as a marker for biliary tract cancer.

The 158th target gene is the hsa-miR-6826-5p gene, a congener thereof, a transcript thereof, or a variant or a derivative thereof. None of the previously known reports show that change in the expression of the gene or the transcript thereof can serve as a marker for biliary tract cancer.

The 159th target gene is the hsa-miR-6757-5p gene, a congener thereof, a transcript thereof, or a variant or a derivative thereof. None of the previously known reports show that change in the expression of the gene or the transcript thereof can serve as a marker for biliary tract cancer.

The 160th target gene is the hsa-miR-3131 gene, a congener thereof, a transcript thereof, or a variant or a derivative thereof. None of the previously known reports show that change in the expression of the gene or the transcript thereof can serve as a marker for biliary tract cancer.

The 161st target gene is the hsa-miR-1343-3p gene, a congener thereof, a transcript thereof, or a variant or a derivative thereof. None of the previously known reports show that change in the expression of the gene or the transcript thereof can serve as a marker for biliary tract cancer.

2. Nucleic Acid Probe or Primer for Detection of Biliary Tract Cancer

In the present invention, a nucleic acid capable of specifically binding to any of the target nucleic acids as the biliary tract cancer markers described above can be used as a nucleic acid, for example, a nucleic acid probe or a primer, for the detection or diagnosis of biliary tract cancer.

In the present invention, the nucleic acid probe or the primer that can be used for detecting biliary tract cancer or for diagnosing biliary tract cancer enables qualitative and/or quantitative measurement of the presence, expression level, or abundance of a target nucleic acid as the biliary tract cancer marker described above, for example, human-derived hsa-miR-125a-3p, hsa-miR-6893-5p, hsa-miR-204-3p, hsa-miR-4476, hsa-miR-4294, hsa-miR-150-3p, hsa-miR-6729-5p, hsa-miR-7641, hsa-miR-6765-3p, hsa-miR-6820-5p, hsa-miR-575, hsa-miR-6836-3p, hsa-miR-1469, hsa-miR-663a, hsa-miR-6075, hsa-miR-4634, hsa-miR-423-5p, hsa-miR-4454, hsa-miR-7109-5p, hsa-miR-6789-5p, hsa-miR-6877-5p, hsa-miR-4792, hsa-miR-4530, hsa-miR-7975, hsa-miR-6724-5p, hsa-miR-8073, hsa-miR-7977, hsa-miR-1231, hsa-miR-6799-5p, hsa-miR-615-5p, hsa-miR-4450, hsa-miR-6726-5p, hsa-miR-6875-5p, hsa-miR-4734, hsa-miR-16-5p, hsa-miR-602, hsa-miR-4651, hsa-miR-8069, hsa-miR-1238-5p, hsa-miR-6880-5p, hsa-miR-8072, hsa-miR-4723-5p, hsa-miR-4732-5p, hsa-miR-6125, hsa-miR-6090, hsa-miR-7114-5p, hsa-miR-564, hsa-miR-451a, hsa-miR-3135b, hsa-miR-4497, hsa-miR-4665-5p, hsa-miR-3622a-5p, hsa-miR-6850-5p, hsa-miR-6821-5p, hsa-miR-5100, hsa-miR-6872-3p, hsa-miR-4433-3p, hsa-miR-1227-5p, hsa-miR-3188, hsa-miR-7704, hsa-miR-3185, hsa-miR-1908-3p, hsa-miR-6781-5p, hsa-miR-6805-5p, hsa-miR-8089, hsa-miR-665, hsa-miR-4486, hsa-miR-6722-3p, hsa-miR-1260a, hsa-miR-4707-5p, hsa-miR-6741-5p, hsa-miR-1260b, hsa-miR-1246, hsa-miR-6845-5p, hsa-miR-4638-5p, hsa-miR-6085, hsa-miR-1228-3p, hsa-miR-4534, hsa-miR-5585-3p, hsa-miR-4741, hsa-miR-4433b-3p, hsa-miR-197-5p, hsa-miR-718, hsa-miR-4513, hsa-miR-4446-3p, hsa-miR-619-5p, hsa-miR-6816-5p, hsa-miR-6778-5p, hsa-miR-24-3p, hsa-miR-1915-3p, hsa-miR-4665-3p, hsa-miR-4449, hsa-miR-6889-5p, hsa-miR-486-3p, hsa-miR-7113-3p, hsa-miR-642a-3p, hsa-miR-7847-3p, hsa-miR-6768-5p, hsa-miR-1290, hsa-miR-7108-5p, hsa-miR-92b-5p, hsa-miR-663b, hsa-miR-3940-5p, hsa-miR-4467, hsa-miR-6858-5p, hsa-miR-4417, hsa-miR-3665, hsa-miR-4736, hsa-miR-4687-3p, hsa-miR-1908-5p, hsa-miR-5195-3p, hsa-miR-4286, hsa-miR-3679-3p, hsa-miR-6791-5p, hsa-miR-1202, hsa-miR-3656, hsa-miR-4746-3p, hsa-miR-3184-5p, hsa-miR-3937, hsa-miR-6515-3p, hsa-miR-6132, hsa-miR-187-5p, hsa-miR-7111-5p, hsa-miR-5787, hsa-miR-6779-5p, hsa-miR-4516, hsa-miR-4649-5p, hsa-miR-760, hsa-miR-3162-5p, hsa-miR-3178, hsa-miR-940, hsa-miR-4271, hsa-miR-6769b-5p, hsa-miR-4508, hsa-miR-6826-5p, hsa-miR-6757-5p, hsa-miR-3131, or hsa-miR-1343-3p, or a combination thereof, or a congener thereof, a transcript thereof, or a variant or a derivative thereof, and, optionally in combination therewith, hsa-miR-6808-5p, hsa-miR-6774-5p, hsa-miR-4656, hsa-miR-6806-5p, hsa-miR-1233-5p, hsa-miR-328-5p, hsa-miR-4674, hsa-miR-2110, hsa-miR-6076, hsa-miR-3619-3p, hsa-miR-92a-2-5p, hsa-miR-128-1-5p, hsa-miR-638, hsa-miR-2861, hsa-miR-371a-5p, hsa-miR-211-3p, hsa-miR-1273 g-3p, hsa-miR-1203, hsa-miR-122-5p, hsa-miR-4258, hsa-miR-4484, hsa-miR-4648 or hsa-miR-6780b-5p or a combination thereof, a congener thereof, a transcript thereof, or a variant or a derivative thereof.

The expression level of each target nucleic acid described above is increased or decreased (hereinafter, referred to as “increased/decreased) depending on the type of the target nucleic acid in a subject who has biliary tract cancer as compared with a healthy subject. Hence, the nucleic acid of the present invention can be effectively used for measuring the expression level of the target nucleic acid in a body fluid derived from a subject (e.g., a human) suspected of having biliary tract cancer and a body fluid derived from a healthy subject and comparing them to detect biliary tract cancer. The nucleic acid of the present invention can also be effectively used for measuring the expression level of the target nucleic acid in a body fluid derived from a subject (e.g., a human) suspected of having biliary tract cancer and body fluids derived from a colorectal cancer patient, a stomach cancer patient, an esophageal cancer patient, a liver cancer patient, and a benign pancreaticobiliary disease patient and comparing them to specifically detect biliary tract cancer from other cancers, benign diseases, and the like.

The nucleic acid probe or the primer that can be used in the present invention is a nucleic acid probe capable of specifically binding to a polynucleotide consisting of a nucleotide sequence represented by at least one of SEQ ID NOs: 1 to 125 (preferably SEQ ID NOs: 1, 2, and 4 to 125) and 466 to 478, or a primer for amplifying a polynucleotide consisting of a nucleotide sequence represented by at least one of SEQ ID NOs: 1 to 125 and 466 to 478.

The nucleic acid probe or the primer that can be further used in the present invention may comprise a nucleic acid probe capable of specifically binding to a polynucleotide consisting of a nucleotide sequence represented by at least one of SEQ ID NOs: 126 to 148, or a primer for amplifying a polynucleotide consisting of a nucleotide sequence represented by at least one of SEQ ID NOs: 126 to 148.

Specifically, these nucleic acid probes or primers comprise a combination of one or more polynucleotides selected from a group of polynucleotides comprising nucleotide sequences represented by any of SEQ ID NOs: 1 to 509 or nucleotide sequences derived from the nucleotide sequences by the replacement of u with t, and a group of complementary polynucleotides thereof, a group of polynucleotides respectively hybridizing under stringent conditions (mentioned later) to DNAs consisting of nucleotide sequences complementary to these nucleotide sequences, and a group of complementary polynucleotides thereof, and a group of polynucleotides comprising 15 or more, preferably 17 or more consecutive nucleotides in the nucleotide sequences of these polynucleotide groups. These polynucleotides can be used as nucleic acid probes and primers for detecting the biliary tract cancer markers as target nucleic acids.

More specifically, examples of the nucleic acid probe or the primer that can be used in the present invention include one or more polynucleotide(s) selected from the group consisting of the following polynucleotides (a) to (e):

(a) a polynucleotide consisting of a nucleotide sequence represented by any of SEQ ID NOs: 1 to 125 and 466 to 478 or a nucleotide sequence derived from the nucleotide sequence by the replacement of u with t, a variant thereof, a derivative thereof, or a fragment thereof comprising 15 or more consecutive nucleotides, (b) a polynucleotide comprising a nucleotide sequence represented by any of SEQ ID NOs: 1 to 125 and 466 to 478, (c) a polynucleotide consisting of a nucleotide sequence complementary to a nucleotide sequence represented by any of SEQ ID NOs: 1 to 125 and 466 to 478 or a nucleotide sequence derived from the nucleotide sequence by the replacement of u with t, a variant thereof, a derivative thereof, or a fragment thereof comprising 15 or more consecutive nucleotides, (d) a polynucleotide comprising a nucleotide sequence complementary to a nucleotide sequence represented by any of SEQ ID NOs: 1 to 125 and 466 to 478 or a nucleotide sequence derived from the nucleotide sequence by the replacement of u with t, and (e) a polynucleotide hybridizing under stringent conditions to any of the polynucleotides (a) to (d).

In addition to at least one or more polynucleotide(s) selected from the group consisting of the polynucleotides (a) to (e), the nucleic acid probe or the primer that can be further used in the present invention may comprise polynucleotide(s) selected from the group consisting of the following polynucleotides (f) to (j):

(f) a polynucleotide consisting of a nucleotide sequence represented by any of SEQ ID NOs: 126 to 148 or a nucleotide sequence derived from the nucleotide sequence by the replacement of u with t, a variant thereof, a derivative thereof, or a fragment thereof comprising 15 or more consecutive nucleotides, (g) a polynucleotide comprising a nucleotide sequence represented by any of SEQ ID NOs: 126 to 148, (h) a polynucleotide consisting of a nucleotide sequence complementary to a nucleotide sequence represented by any of SEQ ID NOs: 126 to 148 or a nucleotide sequence derived from the nucleotide sequence by the replacement of u with t, a variant thereof, a derivative thereof, or a fragment thereof comprising 15 or more consecutive nucleotides, (i) a polynucleotide comprising a nucleotide sequence complementary to a nucleotide sequence represented by any of SEQ ID NOs: 126 to 148 or a nucleotide sequence derived from the nucleotide sequence by the replacement of u with t, and (j) a polynucleotide hybridizing under stringent conditions to any of the polynucleotides (f) to (i).

For these polynucleotides, the “fragment thereof comprising 15 or more consecutive nucleotides” can comprise the number of nucleotides in the range of, for example, 15 consecutive nucleotides to less than the total number of nucleotides of the sequence, 17 consecutive nucleotides to less than the total number of nucleotides of the sequence, or 19 consecutive nucleotides to less than the total number of nucleotides of the sequence, in the nucleotide sequence of each polynucleotide, though the fragment is not limited thereto.

These polynucleotides or fragments thereof used in the present invention may each be DNA or may each be RNA.

The polynucleotides that can be used in the present invention can each be prepared by use of a general technique such as a DNA recombination technique, PCR, or a method using an automatic DNA/RNA synthesizer.

The DNA recombination technique and the PCR can employ a technique described in, for example, Ausubel et al., Current Protocols in Molecular Biology, John Willey & Sons, US (1993); and Sambrook et al., Molecular Cloning—A Laboratory Manual, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press, US (1989).

The human-derived hsa-miR-125a-3p, hsa-miR-6893-5p, hsa-miR-204-3p, hsa-miR-4476, hsa-miR-4294, hsa-miR-150-3p, hsa-miR-6729-5p, hsa-miR-7641, hsa-miR-6765-3p, hsa-miR-6820-5p, hsa-miR-575, hsa-miR-6836-3p, hsa-miR-1469, hsa-miR-663a, hsa-miR-6075, hsa-miR-4634, hsa-miR-423-5p, hsa-miR-4454, hsa-miR-7109-5p, hsa-miR-6789-5p, hsa-miR-6877-5p, hsa-miR-4792, hsa-miR-4530, hsa-miR-7975, hsa-miR-6724-5p, hsa-miR-8073, hsa-miR-7977, hsa-miR-1231, hsa-miR-6799-5p, hsa-miR-615-5p, hsa-miR-4450, hsa-miR-6726-5p, hsa-miR-6875-5p, hsa-miR-4734, hsa-miR-16-5p, hsa-miR-602, hsa-miR-4651, hsa-miR-8069, hsa-miR-1238-5p, hsa-miR-6880-5p, hsa-miR-8072, hsa-miR-4723-5p, hsa-miR-4732-5p, hsa-miR-6125, hsa-miR-6090, hsa-miR-7114-5p, hsa-miR-564, hsa-miR-451a, hsa-miR-3135b, hsa-miR-4497, hsa-miR-4665-5p, hsa-miR-3622a-5p, hsa-miR-6850-5p, hsa-miR-6821-5p, hsa-miR-5100, hsa-miR-6872-3p, hsa-miR-4433-3p, hsa-miR-1227-5p, hsa-miR-3188, hsa-miR-7704, hsa-miR-3185, hsa-miR-1908-3p, hsa-miR-6781-5p, hsa-miR-6805-5p, hsa-miR-8089, hsa-miR-665, hsa-miR-4486, hsa-miR-6722-3p, hsa-miR-1260a, hsa-miR-4707-5p, hsa-miR-6741-5p, hsa-miR-1260b, hsa-miR-1246, hsa-miR-6845-5p, hsa-miR-4638-5p, hsa-miR-6085, hsa-miR-1228-3p, hsa-miR-4534, hsa-miR-5585-3p, hsa-miR-4741, hsa-miR-4433b-3p, hsa-miR-197-5p, hsa-miR-718, hsa-miR-4513, hsa-miR-4446-3p, hsa-miR-619-5p, hsa-miR-6816-5p, hsa-miR-6778-5p, hsa-miR-24-3p, hsa-miR-1915-3p, hsa-miR-4665-3p, hsa-miR-4449, hsa-miR-6889-5p, hsa-miR-486-3p, hsa-miR-7113-3p, hsa-miR-642a-3p, hsa-miR-7847-3p, hsa-miR-6768-5p, hsa-miR-1290, hsa-miR-7108-5p, hsa-miR-92b-5p, hsa-miR-663b, hsa-miR-3940-5p, hsa-miR-4467, hsa-miR-6858-5p, hsa-miR-4417, hsa-miR-3665, hsa-miR-4736, hsa-miR-4687-3p, hsa-miR-1908-5p, hsa-miR-5195-3p, hsa-miR-4286, hsa-miR-3679-3p, hsa-miR-6791-5p, hsa-miR-1202, hsa-miR-3656, hsa-miR-4746-3p, hsa-miR-3184-5p, hsa-miR-3937, hsa-miR-6515-3p, hsa-miR-6132, hsa-miR-187-5p, hsa-miR-7111-5p, hsa-miR-5787, hsa-miR-6779-5p, hsa-miR-6808-5p, hsa-miR-6774-5p, hsa-miR-4656, hsa-miR-6806-5p, hsa-miR-1233-5p, hsa-miR-328-5p, hsa-miR-4674, hsa-miR-2110, hsa-miR-6076, hsa-miR-3619-3p, hsa-miR-92a-2-5p, hsa-miR-128-1-5p, hsa-miR-638, hsa-miR-2861, hsa-miR-371a-5p, hsa-miR-211-3p, hsa-miR-1273g-3p, hsa-miR-1203, hsa-miR-122-5p, hsa-miR-4258, hsa-miR-4484, hsa-miR-4648 and hsa-miR-6780b-5p represented by SEQ ID NOs: 1 to 148, 466 to 478 are known in the art, and their acquisition methods are also known as mentioned above. Therefore, each polynucleotide that can be used as a nucleic acid probe or a primer in the present invention can be prepared by cloning the gene.

Such a nucleic acid probe or a primer can be chemically synthesized using an automated DNA synthesizer. In general, a phosphoramidite method is used in this synthesis, and single-stranded DNA up to approximately 100 nucleotides can be automatically synthesized by this method. The automated DNA synthesizer is commercially available from, for example, Polygen GmbH, ABI, or Applied Biosystems, Inc.

Alternatively, the polynucleotide of the present invention can also be prepared by a cDNA cloning method. The cDNA cloning technique can employ, for example, microRNA Cloning Kit Wako.

In this context, the sequences of the nucleic acid probe and the primer for detecting the polynucleotide that consists of a nucleotide sequence represented by any of SEQ ID NOs: 1 to 148, 466 to 478 do not exist as miRNAs or precursors thereof in vivo. For example, the nucleotide sequences represented by SEQ ID NO: 51 and SEQ ID NO: 91 are produced from the precursor represented by SEQ ID NO: 201. This precursor has a hairpin-like structure as shown in FIG. 1 , and the nucleotide sequences represented by SEQ ID NO: 51 and SEQ ID NO: 91 have mismatch sequences with each other. Therefore, a nucleotide sequence completely complementary to the nucleotide sequence represented by SEQ ID NO: 51 or SEQ ID NO: 91 is not naturally produced in vivo. Likewise, the nucleic acid probe and the primer for detecting the nucleotide sequence represented by any of SEQ ID NOs: 1 to 148 and 466 to 478 each has an artificial nucleotide sequence that does not exist in vivo.

3. Kit or Device for Detection of Biliary Tract Cancer

The present invention also provides a kit or a device for the detection of biliary tract cancer, comprising one or more polynucleotide(s) (which may include a variant, a fragment, or a derivative thereof; hereinafter, also referred to as a polynucleotide for detection) that can be used as a nucleic acid probe or a primer in the present invention for measuring a target nucleic acid as a biliary tract cancer marker.

The target nucleic acid as a biliary tract marker according to the present invention is preferably selected from the following group 1:

miR-125a-3p, miR-6893-5p, miR-204-3p, miR-4476, miR-4294, miR-150-3p, miR-6729-5p, miR-7641, miR-6765-3p, miR-6820-5p, miR-575, miR-6836-3p, miR-1469, miR-663a, miR-6075, miR-4634, miR-423-5p, miR-4454, miR-7109-5p, miR-6789-5p, miR-6877-5p, miR-4792, miR-4530, miR-7975, miR-6724-5p, miR-8073, miR-7977, miR-1231, miR-6799-5p, miR-615-5p, miR-4450, miR-6726-5p, miR-6875-5p, miR-4734, miR-16-5p, miR-602, miR-4651, miR-8069, miR-1238-5p, miR-6880-5p, miR-8072, miR-4723-5p, miR-4732-5p, miR-6125, miR-6090, miR-7114-5p, miR-564, miR-451a, miR-3135b, miR-4497, miR-4665-5p, miR-3622a-5p, miR-6850-5p, miR-6821-5p, miR-5100, miR-6872-3p, miR-4433-3p, miR-1227-5p, miR-3188, miR-7704, miR-3185, miR-1908-3p, miR-6781-5p, miR-6805-5p, miR-8089, miR-665, miR-4486, miR-6722-3p, miR-1260a, miR-4707-5p, miR-6741-5p, miR-1260b, miR-1246, miR-6845-5p, miR-4638-5p, miR-6085, miR-1228-3p, miR-4534, miR-5585-3p, miR-4741, miR-4433b-3p, miR-197-5p, miR-718, miR-4513, miR-4446-3p, miR-619-5p, miR-6816-5p, miR-6778-5p, miR-24-3p, miR-1915-3p, miR-4665-3p, miR-4449, miR-6889-5p, miR-486-3p, miR-7113-3p, miR-642a-3p, miR-7847-3p, miR-6768-5p, miR-1290, miR-7108-5p, miR-92b-5p, miR-663b, miR-3940-5p, miR-4467, miR-6858-5p, miR-4417, miR-3665, miR-4736, miR-4687-3p, miR-1908-5p, miR-5195-3p, miR-4286, miR-3679-3p, miR-6791-5p, miR-1202, miR-3656, miR-4746-3p, miR-3184-5p, miR-3937, miR-6515-3p, miR-6132, miR-187-5p, miR-7111-5p, miR-5787, miR-6779-5p, miR-4516, miR-4649-5p, miR-760, miR-3162-5p, miR-3178, miR-940, miR-4271, miR-6769b-5p, miR-4508, miR-6826-5p, miR-6757-5p, miR-3131, and miR-1343-3p.

An additional target nucleic acid that may be optionally used in the measurement is preferably selected from the following group 2: miR-6808-5p, miR-6774-5p, miR-4656, miR-6806-5p, miR-1233-5p, miR-328-5p, miR-4674, miR-2110, miR-6076, miR-3619-3p, miR-92a-2-5p, miR-128-1-5p, miR-638, miR-2861, miR-371a-5p, miR-211-3p, miR-1273g-3p, miR-1203, miR-122-5p, miR-4258, miR-4484, miR-4648 and miR-6780b-5p.

The kit or the device of the present invention comprises nucleic acid(s) capable of specifically binding to any of the target nucleic acids as the biliary tract cancer markers described above, preferably one or more polynucleotide(s) selected from the nucleic acid probes or the primers described in Section 2 above, specifically, the polynucleotides described in Section 2 above, or variant(s) thereof.

Specifically, the kit or the device of the present invention may comprise at least one or more polynucleotide(s) comprising (or consisting of) a nucleotide sequence represented by any of SEQ ID NOs: 1 to 125, and 466 to 478 or a nucleotide sequence derived from the nucleotide sequence by the replacement of u with t, polynucleotide(s) comprising (or consisting of) a complementary sequence thereof, polynucleotide(s) hybridizing under stringent conditions to any of these polynucleotides, or variant(s) or fragment(s) comprising 15 or more consecutive nucleotides of any of these polynucleotide sequences.

The kit or the device of the present invention may further comprise one or more polynucleotide(s) comprising (or consisting of) a nucleotide sequence represented by any of SEQ ID NOs: 126 to 148 or a nucleotide sequence derived from the nucleotide sequence by the replacement of u with t, polynucleotide(s) comprising (or consisting of) a complementary sequence thereof, polynucleotide(s) hybridizing under stringent conditions to any of these polynucleotides, variant(s) or fragment(s) comprising 15 or more consecutive nucleotides of any of these polynucleotide sequences.

The fragment that may be contained in the kit or the device of the present invention is, for example, one or more, preferably two or more polynucleotides selected from the group consisting of the following polynucleotides (1) to (2):

(1) a polynucleotide comprising 15 or more consecutive nucleotides in a nucleotide sequence derived from a nucleotide sequence represented by any of SEQ ID NOs: 1 to 125, 466 to 478 by the replacement of u with t, or a complementary sequence thereof;

(2) a polynucleotide comprising 15 or more consecutive nucleotides in a nucleotide sequence derived from a nucleotide sequence represented by any of SEQ ID NOs: 126 to 148 by the replacement of u with t, or a complementary sequence thereof; and

In a preferred embodiment, the polynucleotide is a polynucleotide consisting of a nucleotide sequence represented by any of SEQ ID NOs: 1 to 125, 466 to 478 or a nucleotide sequence derived from the nucleotide sequence by the replacement of u with t, a polynucleotide consisting of a complementary sequence thereof, a polynucleotide hybridizing under stringent conditions to any of these polynucleotides, or a variant thereof comprising 15 or more, preferably 17 or more, more preferably 19 or more consecutive nucleotides.

In a preferred embodiment, the polynucleotide is a polynucleotide consisting of a nucleotide sequence represented by any of SEQ ID NOs: 126 to 148 or a nucleotide sequence derived from the nucleotide sequence by the replacement of u with t, a polynucleotide consisting of a complementary sequence thereof, a polynucleotide hybridizing under stringent conditions to any of these polynucleotides, or a variant thereof comprising 15 or more, preferably 17 or more, more preferably 19 or more consecutive nucleotides.

In a preferred embodiment, the fragment may be a polynucleotide comprising 15 or more, preferably 17 or more, more preferably 19 or more consecutive nucleotides.

In the present invention, the size of the polynucleotide fragment is the number of nucleotides in the range of, for example, 15 consecutive nucleotides to less than the total number of nucleotides of the sequence, 17 consecutive nucleotides to less than the total number of nucleotides of the sequence, or 19 consecutive nucleotides to less than the total number of nucleotides of the sequence, in the nucleotide sequence of each polynucleotide.

Specific examples of the aforementioned polynucleotide combination constituting the kit or the device of the present invention can include any combination of the polynucleotides consisting of nucleotide sequences represented by SEQ ID NOs shown in Table 1 mentioned later (SEQ ID NOs: 1 to 148 and 466 to 478 corresponding to the miRNA markers in Table 1) or complementary sequences thereof. However, these are given merely for illustrative purposes, and all of various other possible combinations are included in the present invention.

The aforementioned combination constituting the kit or the device for discriminating a biliary tract cancer patient from a healthy subject according to the present invention is desirably, for example, a combination of two or more of the aforementioned polynucleotides consisting of nucleotide sequences represented by SEQ ID NOs shown in Table 1. Usually, a combination of two of these polynucleotides can produce adequate performance.

Specifically, the combination of two polynucleotides consisting of the nucleotide sequences or the complementary sequences thereof for discriminating a biliary tract cancer patient from a healthy subject is preferably a combination comprising at least one or more of newly found polynucleotides consisting of the nucleotide sequences represented by SEQ ID NOs: 1 to 125 and 466 to 478, among the aforementioned combinations of two polynucleotides selected from the polynucleotides consisting of the nucleotide sequences represented by SEQ ID NOs: 1 to 148 and 466 to 478.

The combination of polynucleotides with cancer type specificity capable of discriminating a biliary tract cancer patient not only from a healthy subject but also from other cancer patients is preferably, for example, a combination of multiple polynucleotides comprising at least one polynucleotide selected from the group consisting of polynucleotides consisting of the nucleotide sequence represented by SEQ ID NOs: 1, 4, 5, 11, 12, 15, 23, 29, 39, 40, 54, 76, 79, 91, 103, 115, 121, 134, 143, 466, 469, 472, 473, and 474, or complementary sequences thereof (hereinafter, this group is referred to as “cancer type-specific polynucleotide group 1”), with any of the polynucleotides of the other SEQ ID NOs.

The combination of polynucleotides with cancer type specificity capable of discriminating a biliary tract cancer patient not only from a healthy subject but also from other cancer patients is more preferably a combination of multiple polynucleotides selected from the cancer type-specific polynucleotide group 1.

The combination of polynucleotides with cancer type specificity capable of discriminating a biliary tract cancer patient not only from a healthy subject but also from other cancer patients is more preferably a combination comprising at least one polynucleotide selected from the group consisting of polynucleotides consisting of the nucleotide sequences represented by SEQ ID NOs: 4, 5, 12, 15, and 40 or complementary sequences thereof (hereinafter, this group is referred to as “cancer type-specific polynucleotide group 2”) included in the cancer type-specific polynucleotide group 1, among the combinations of multiple polynucleotides selected from the cancer type-specific polynucleotide group 1.

The number of the aforementioned polynucleotides with cancer type specificity in the combination can be 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 or more in the combination and is more preferably 4 or more in the combination. Usually, the combination of 4 of the polynucleotides can produce adequate performance.

Non-limiting examples of the combination of the polynucleotide consisting of the nucleotide sequence represented by SEQ ID NO: 4 or a complementary sequence thereof with polynucleotides consisting of nucleotide sequences represented by SEQ ID NOs of three polynucleotides selected from the cancer type-specific polynucleotide group 1 or complementary sequences thereof are listed below.

(1) a combination of SEQ ID NOs: 4, 15, 54, and 115 (markers: miR-4476, miR-6075, miR-6821-5p, and miR-1202);

(2) a combination of SEQ ID NOs: 4, 5, 12, and 76 (markers: miR-4476, miR-4294, miR-6836-3p, and miR-6085);

(3) a combination of SEQ ID NOs: 4, 5, 12, and 115 (markers: miR-4476, miR-4294, miR-6836-3p, and miR-1202);

(4) a combination of SEQ ID NOs: 4, 12, 15, and 474 (markers: miR-4476, miR-6836-3p, miR-6075, and miR-4508);

(5) a combination of SEQ ID NOs: 4, 15, 29, and 115 (markers: miR-4476, miR-6075, miR-6799-5p, and miR-1202).

Non-limiting examples of the combination of the polynucleotide consisting of the nucleotide sequence represented by SEQ ID NO: 5 or a complementary sequence thereof with polynucleotides consisting of nucleotide sequences represented by SEQ ID NOs of three polynucleotides selected from the cancer type-specific polynucleotide group 1 or complementary sequences thereof are listed below.

(1) a combination of SEQ ID NOs: 5, 76, 12, and 115 (markers: hsa-miR-4294, hsa-miR-6085, hsa-miR-6836-3p, and hsa-miR-1202);

(2) a combination of SEQ ID NOs: 5, 76, 54, and 115 (markers: hsa-miR-4294, hsa-miR-6085, hsa-miR-6821-5p, and hsa-miR-1202);

(3) a combination of SEQ ID NOs: 5, 23, 12, and 115 (markers: hsa-miR-4294, hsa-miR-4530, hsa-miR-6836-3p, and hsa-miR-1202);

(4) a combination of SEQ ID NOs: 5, 12, 115, and 91 (markers: hsa-miR-4294, hsa-miR-6836-3p, hsa-miR-1202, and hsa-miR-4665-3p);

(5) a combination of SEQ ID NOs: 5, 1, 23, and 4 (markers: hsa-miR-4294, hsa-miR-125a-3p, hsa-miR-4530, and hsa-miR-4476).

Non-limiting examples of the combination of the polynucleotide consisting of the nucleotide sequence represented by SEQ ID NO: 12 or a complementary sequence thereof with polynucleotides consisting of nucleotide sequences represented by SEQ ID NOs of three polynucleotides selected from the cancer type-specific polynucleotide group 1 or complementary sequences thereof are listed below.

(1) a combination of SEQ ID NOs: 5, 12, 29, and 115 (markers: miR-4294, miR-6836-3p, miR-6799-5p, and miR-1202);

(2) a combination of SEQ ID NOs: 12, 15, 23, and 115 (markers: miR-6836-3p, miR-6075, miR-4530, and miR-1202);

(3) a combination of SEQ ID NOs: 5, 12, 115, and 469 (markers: miR-4294, miR-6836-3p, miR-3162-5p, and miR-1202);

(4) a combination of SEQ ID NOs: 5, 12, 115, and 472 (markers: miR-4294, miR-6836-3p, miR-1202, and miR-4271);

(5) a combination of SEQ ID NOs: 5, 12, 76, and 115 (markers: miR-4294, miR-6085, miR-1202, and miR-6836-3p).

Non-limiting examples of the combination of the polynucleotide consisting of the nucleotide sequence represented by SEQ ID NO: 15 or a complementary sequence thereof with polynucleotides consisting of nucleotide sequences represented by SEQ ID NOs of three polynucleotides selected from the cancer type-specific polynucleotide group 1 or complementary sequences thereof are listed below.

(1) a combination of SEQ ID NOs: 15, 29, 1, and 12 (markers: hsa-miR-6075, hsa-miR-6799-5p, hsa-miR-125a-3p, and hsa-miR-6836-3p);

(2) a combination of SEQ ID NOs: 15, 12, 11, and 143 (markers: hsa-miR-6075, hsa-miR-6836-3p, hsa-miR-575, and hsa-miR-1203);

(3) a combination of SEQ ID NOs: 15, 76, 121, and 39 (markers: hsa-miR-6075, hsa-miR-6085, hsa-miR-6132, and hsa-miR-1238-5p);

(4) a combination of SEQ ID NOs: 15, 76, 54, and 121 (markers: hsa-miR-6075, hsa-miR-6085, hsa-miR-6821-5p, and hsa-miR-6132);

(5) a combination of SEQ ID NOs: 15, 40, 1, and 23 (markers: hsa-miR-6075, hsa-miR-6880-5p, hsa-miR-125a-3p, and hsa-miR-4530).

Non-limiting examples of the combination of the polynucleotide consisting of the nucleotide sequence represented by SEQ ID NO: 40 or a complementary sequence thereof with polynucleotides consisting of nucleotide sequences represented by SEQ ID NOs of three polynucleotides selected from the cancer type-specific polynucleotide group 1 or complementary sequences thereof are listed below.

(1) a combination of SEQ ID NOs: 12, 40, 472, and 473 (markers: miR-6836-3p, miR-6880-5p, miR-4271, and miR-6769b-5p);

(2) a combination of SEQ ID NOs: 12, 23, 40, and 466 (markers: miR-6836-3p, miR-4530, miR-6880-5p, and miR-4516);

(3) a combination of SEQ ID NOs: 12, 23, 40, and 134 (markers: miR-6836-3p, miR-4530, miR-6880-5p, and miR-6076);

(4) a combination of SEQ ID NOs: 15, 40, 121, and 134 (markers: miR-6075, miR-6880-5p, miR-6132, and miR-6076);

(5) a combination of SEQ ID NOs: 15, 40, 54, and 76 (markers: miR-6075, miR-6880-5p, miR-6821-5p, and miR-6085).

The kit or the device of the present invention may also comprise a polynucleotide that is already known or that will be found in the future, to enable detection of biliary tract cancer, in addition to the polynucleotide(s) (which can include variant(s), fragment(s), and derivative(s)) according to the present invention as described above.

The kit of the present invention may also comprise an antibody for measuring a marker for biliary tract cancer examination known in the art, such as CEA, CA19-9, SPan-1, DUTPAN-2, CA50, CA195, IL-6, CA242, TAG-72, urinary fucose, POA, or TPS, in addition to the polynucleotide(s) according to the present invention as described above.

These polynucleotides contained in the kit of the present invention may be packaged in different containers either individually or in any combination.

The kit of the present invention may comprise a kit for extracting a nucleic acid (e.g., total RNA) from body fluids, cells, or tissues; a fluorescent material for labeling, an enzyme and a medium for nucleic acid amplification, an instruction manual, etc.

The device of the present invention is a device for cancer marker measurement in which nucleic acids such as the polynucleotides according to the present invention described above are bound or attached to, for example, a solid phase. Examples of the material for the solid phase include plastics, paper, glass, and silicon. The material for the solid phase is preferably a plastic from the viewpoint of easy processability. The solid phase has any shape and is, for example, square, round, reed-shaped, or film-shaped. The device of the present invention includes, for example, a device for measurement by a hybridization technique. Specific examples thereof include blotting devices and nucleic acid arrays (e.g., microarrays, DNA chips, and RNA chips).

The nucleic acid array technique is a technique which involves binding or attaching the nucleic acids one by one by use of a method [e.g., a method of spotting the nucleic acids using a high-density dispenser called spotter or arrayer onto the surface of the solid phase surface-treated, if necessary, by coating with L-lysine or the introduction of a functional group such as an amino group or a carboxyl group, a method of spraying the nucleic acids onto the solid phase using an inkjet which injects very small liquid droplets by a piezoelectric element or the like from a nozzle, or a method of sequentially synthesizing nucleotides on the solid phase] to prepare an array such as a chip and measuring target nucleic acids through the use of hybridization using this array.

The kit or the device of the present invention comprises nucleic acids capable of specifically binding to the polynucleotides of at least one or more, preferably at least two or more, more preferably at least three or more, most preferably at least five or more to all of the biliary tract cancer marker miRNAs, respectively, of the group 1 described above. The kit or the device of the present invention may optionally further comprise nucleic acids capable of specifically binding to the polynucleotides of at least one or more, preferably at least two or more, more preferably at least three or more, most preferably all of five of the biliary tract cancer marker miRNAs, respectively, of the group 2 described above.

The kit or the device of the present invention can be used for detecting biliary tract cancer as described in Section 4 below.

4. Method for Detecting Biliary Tract Cancer

The present invention further provides a method for detecting biliary tract cancer, comprising using the kit or the device of the present invention (comprising the above-mentioned nucleic acid(s) that can be used in the present invention) described in Section 3 above to measure expression level(s) of one or more liver cancer-derived gene(s) being an expression level of biliary tract cancer-derived gene(s) selected from the following group: miR-125a-3p, miR-6893-5p, miR-204-3p, miR-4476, miR-4294, miR-150-3p, miR-6729-5p, miR-7641, miR-6765-3p, miR-6820-5p, miR-575, miR-6836-3p, miR-1469, miR-663a, miR-6075, miR-4634, miR-423-5p, miR-4454, miR-7109-5p, miR-6789-5p, miR-6877-5p, miR-4792, miR-4530, miR-7975, miR-6724-5p, miR-8073, miR-7977, miR-1231, miR-6799-5p, miR-615-5p, miR-4450, miR-6726-5p, miR-6875-5p, miR-4734, miR-16-5p, miR-602, miR-4651, miR-8069, miR-1238-5p, miR-6880-5p, miR-8072, miR-4723-5p, miR-4732-5p, miR-6125, miR-6090, miR-7114-5p, miR-564, miR-451a, miR-3135b, miR-4497, miR-4665-5p, miR-3622a-5p, miR-6850-5p, miR-6821-5p, miR-5100, miR-6872-3p, miR-4433-3p, miR-1227-5p, miR-3188, miR-7704, miR-3185, miR-1908-3p, miR-6781-5p, miR-6805-5p, miR-8089, miR-665, miR-4486, miR-6722-3p, miR-1260a, miR-4707-5p, miR-6741-5p, miR-1260b, miR-1246, miR-6845-5p, miR-4638-5p, miR-6085, miR-1228-3p, miR-4534, miR-5585-3p, miR-4741, miR-4433b-3p, miR-197-5p, miR-718, miR-4513, miR-4446-3p, miR-619-5p, miR-6816-5p, miR-6778-5p, miR-24-3p, miR-1915-3p, miR-4665-3p, miR-4449, miR-6889-5p, miR-486-3p, miR-7113-3p, miR-642a-3p, miR-7847-3p, miR-6768-5p, miR-1290, miR-7108-5p, miR-92b-5p, miR-663b, miR-3940-5p, miR-4467, miR-6858-5p, miR-4417, miR-3665, miR-4736, miR-4687-3p, miR-1908-5p, miR-5195-3p, miR-4286, miR-3679-3p, miR-6791-5p, miR-1202, miR-3656, miR-4746-3p, miR-3184-5p, miR-3937, miR-6515-3p, miR-6132, miR-187-5p, miR-7111-5p, miR-5787 and miR-6779-5p, and optionally an expression level of biliary tract cancer-derived gene(s) selected from the following group: miR-6808-5p, miR-6774-5p, miR-4656, miR-6806-5p, miR-1233-5p, miR-328-5p, miR-4674, miR-2110, miR-6076, miR-3619-3p, miR-92a-2-5p, miR-128-1-5p, miR-638, miR-2861, miR-371a-5p, miR-211-3p, miR-1273g-3p, miR-1203, miR-122-5p, miR-4258, miR-4484, miR-4648, miR-6780b-5p, miR-4516, miR-4649-5p, miR-760, miR-3162-5p, miR-3178, miR-940, miR-4271, miR-6769b-5p, miR-4508, miR-6826-5p, miR-6757-5p, miR-3131, and miR-1343-3p in a sample in vitro, further comparing, for example, the expression level(s) of the gene(s) in the sample (e.g., blood, serum, or plasma) collected from a subject suspected of having biliary tract cancer with a control expression level in the sample collected from a healthy subject (including a non-biliary tract cancer patient), and evaluating the subject as having biliary tract cancer when the expression level(s) of the target nucleic acid(s) is statistically significantly different between the samples.

This method of the present invention enables a limitedly invasive, early diagnosis of the cancer with high sensitivity and high specificity and thereby brings about early treatment and improved prognosis. In addition, exacerbation of the disease or the effectiveness of surgical, radiotherapeutic, and chemotherapeutic treatments can be monitored.

The method for extracting the biliary tract cancer-derived gene from the sample such as blood, serum, or plasma according to the present invention is particularly preferably prepared by the addition of a reagent for RNA extraction in 3D-Gene® RNA extraction reagent from liquid sample kit (Toray Industries, Inc.). A general acidic phenol method (acid guanidinium-phenol-chloroform (AGPC)) may be used, or Trizol® (Life Technologies Corp.) may be used. The biliary tract cancer-derived gene may be prepared by the addition of a reagent for RNA extraction containing acidic phenol, such as Trizol (Life Technologies Corp.) or Isogen (Nippon Gene Co., Ltd.). Alternatively, a kit such as miRNeasy® Mini Kit (Qiagen N.V.) can be used, though the method is not limited thereto.

The present invention also provides use of the kit or the device of the present invention for detecting in vitro an expression product of a biliary tract cancer-derived miRNA gene in a sample derived from a subject.

In the method of the present invention, the kit or the device described above comprising a single polynucleotide or any possible combination of the polynucleotides that can be used in the present invention as described above is used.

In the detection or (genetic) diagnosis of biliary tract cancer according to the present invention, each polynucleotide contained in the kit or the device of the present invention can be used as a probe or a primer. In the case of using the polynucleotide as a primer, TaqMan® MicroRNA Assays from Life Technologies Corp., miScript PCR System from Qiagen N.V., or the like can be used, though the method is not limited thereto.

The polynucleotide contained in the kit or the device of the present invention can be used as a primer or a probe according to a routine method in a method known in the art for specifically detecting the particular gene, for example, a hybridization technique such as Northern blot, Southern blot, in situ hybridization, Northern hybridization, or Southern hybridization, or a quantitative amplification technique such as quantitative RT-PCR. A body fluid such as blood, serum, plasma, or urine of the subject is collected as a sample to be assayed according to the type of the detection method used. Alternatively, total RNA prepared from such a body fluid by the method described above may be used, and various polynucleotides including cDNA prepared on the basis of the RNA may be used.

The kit or the device of the present invention is useful for the diagnosis of biliary tract cancer or the detection of the presence or absence of biliary tract cancer. Specifically, the detection of biliary tract cancer using the kit or the device can be performed by detecting in vitro an expression level of a gene using the nucleic acid probe or the primer contained in the kit or the device in a sample such as blood, serum, plasma, or urine from a subject suspected of having biliary tract cancer. The subject suspected of having biliary tract cancer can be evaluated as having biliary tract cancer when the expression level of a target miRNA marker measured using polynucleotide(s) (including variant(s), fragment(s), and derivative(s) thereof) consisting of a nucleotide sequence represented by at least one or more of SEQ ID NOs: 1 to 125, 466 to 478 or a complementary sequence thereof, and optionally a nucleotide sequence represented by one or more of SEQ ID NOs: 126 to 148 or a complementary sequence thereof in the sample such as blood, serum, plasma, or urine of the subject is statistically significantly different compared with the expression level thereof in the sample such as blood, serum, or plasma, or urine of a healthy subject.

The method of the present invention can be combined with a diagnostic imaging method such as abdominal ultrasonography, CT scanning, endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography, or endoscopic ultrasonography. The method of the present invention is capable of specifically detecting biliary tract cancer and can substantially discriminate biliary tract cancer from the other cancers. Particularly, for pancreatic cancer, some miRNA markers for biliary tract cancer can be commonly used. However, biliary tract cancer can be discriminated from pancreatic cancer on the basis of a discriminant boundary adopted according to a discriminant. Alternatively, biliary tract cancer can be discriminated therefrom by combination with an additional diagnostic method such as the diagnostic imaging method as described above.

The method for detecting the absence of an expression product of a biliary tract cancer-derived gene or the presence of the expression product of a biliary tract cancer-derived gene in a sample using the kit or the device of the present invention comprises; collecting a body fluid such as blood, serum, plasma, or urine of a subject; measuring the expression level of the target gene contained therein using one or more polynucleotide(s) (including variant(s), fragment(s), or derivative(s)) selected from the polynucleotide group of the present invention; and evaluating the presence or absence of biliary tract cancer or to detect biliary tract cancer. Using the method for detecting biliary tract cancer according to the present invention, for example, the presence or absence of amelioration of the disease or the degree of amelioration thereof in a biliary tract cancer patient when a therapeutic drug is administered to the patient for amelioration of the disease can be evaluated or diagnosed.

The method of the present invention may comprise, for example, the following steps (a), (b), and (c):

(a) contacting in vitro a sample derived from a subject with a polynucleotide in the kit or the device of the present invention;

(b) measuring an expression level of the target nucleic acid in the sample using the polynucleotide as a nucleic acid probe or a primer; and

(c) evaluating the presence or absence of biliary tract cancer (cells) in the subject on the basis of a measurement result obtained in the step (b).

Specifically, the present invention provides a method for detecting biliary tract cancer, comprising measuring an expression level of a target nucleic acid in a sample of a subject using nucleic acid(s) capable of specifically binding to at least one or more (preferably at least two or more) polynucleotide(s) selected from the group consisting of miR-125a-3p, miR-6893-5p, miR-204-3p, miR-4476, miR-4294, miR-150-3p, miR-6729-5p, miR-7641, miR-6765-3p, miR-6820-5p, miR-575, miR-6836-3p, miR-1469, miR-663a, miR-6075, miR-4634, miR-423-5p, miR-4454, miR-7109-5p, miR-6789-5p, miR-6877-5p, miR-4792, miR-4530, miR-7975, miR-6724-5p, miR-8073, miR-7977, miR-1231, miR-6799-5p, miR-615-5p, miR-4450, miR-6726-5p, miR-6875-5p, miR-4734, miR-16-5p, miR-602, miR-4651, miR-8069, miR-1238-5p, miR-6880-5p, miR-8072, miR-4723-5p, miR-4732-5p, miR-6125, miR-6090, miR-7114-5p, miR-564, miR-451a, miR-3135b, miR-4497, miR-4665-5p, miR-3622a-5p, miR-6850-5p, miR-6821-5p, miR-5100, miR-6872-3p, miR-4433-3p, miR-1227-5p, miR-3188, miR-7704, miR-3185, miR-1908-3p, miR-6781-5p, miR-6805-5p, miR-8089, miR-665, miR-4486, miR-6722-3p, miR-1260a, miR-4707-5p, miR-6741-5p, miR-1260b, miR-1246, miR-6845-5p, miR-4638-5p, miR-6085, miR-1228-3p, miR-4534, miR-5585-3p, miR-4741, miR-4433b-3p, miR-197-5p, miR-718, miR-4513, miR-4446-3p, miR-619-5p, miR-6816-5p, miR-6778-5p, miR-24-3p, miR-1915-3p, miR-4665-3p, miR-4449, miR-6889-5p, miR-486-3p, miR-7113-3p, miR-642a-3p, miR-7847-3p, miR-6768-5p, miR-1290, miR-7108-5p, miR-92b-5p, miR-663b, miR-3940-5p, miR-4467, miR-6858-5p, miR-4417, miR-3665, miR-4736, miR-4687-3p, miR-1908-5p, miR-5195-3p, miR-4286, miR-3679-3p, miR-6791-5p, miR-1202, miR-3656, miR-4746-3p, miR-3184-5p, miR-3937, miR-6515-3p, miR-6132, miR-187-5p, miR-7111-5p, miR-5787, miR-6779-5p, miR-4516, miR-4649-5p, miR-760, miR-3162-5p, miR-3178, miR-940, miR-4271, miR-6769b-5p, miR-4508, miR-6826-5p, miR-6757-5p, miR-3131, and miR-1343-3p and evaluating in vitro whether or not the subject has biliary tract cancer using the measured expression level and a control expression level of a healthy subject measured in the same way as above.

The term “evaluation” used herein is evaluation support based on results of in vitro examination, not physician's judgment.

As described above, in a preferred embodiment of the method of the present invention, specifically, miR-125a-3p is hsa-miR-125a-3p, miR-6893-5p is hsa-miR-6893-5p, miR-204-3p is hsa-miR-204-3p, miR-4476 is hsa-miR-4476, miR-4294 is hsa-miR-4294, miR-150-3p is hsa-miR-150-3p, miR-6729-5p is hsa-miR-6729-5p, miR-7641 is hsa-miR-7641, miR-6765-3p is hsa-miR-6765-3p, miR-6820-5p is hsa-miR-6820-5p, miR-575 is hsa-miR-575, miR-6836-3p is hsa-miR-6836-3p, miR-1469 is hsa-miR-1469, miR-663a is hsa-miR-663a, miR-6075 is hsa-miR-6075, miR-4634 is hsa-miR-4634, miR-423-5p is hsa-miR-423-5p, miR-4454 is hsa-miR-4454, miR-7109-5p is hsa-miR-7109-5p, miR-6789-5p is hsa-miR-6789-5p, miR-6877-5p is hsa-miR-6877-5p, miR-4792 is hsa-miR-4792, miR-4530 is hsa-miR-4530, miR-7975 is hsa-miR-7975, miR-6724-5p is hsa-miR-6724-5p, miR-8073 is hsa-miR-8073, miR-7977 is hsa-miR-7977, miR-1231 is hsa-miR-1231, miR-6799-5p is hsa-miR-6799-5p, miR-615-5p is hsa-miR-615-5p, miR-4450 is hsa-miR-4450, miR-6726-5p is hsa-miR-6726-5p, miR-6875-5p is hsa-miR-6875-5p, miR-4734 is hsa-miR-4734, miR-16-5p is hsa-miR-16-5p, miR-602 is hsa-miR-602, miR-4651 is hsa-miR-4651, miR-8069 is hsa-miR-8069, miR-1238-5p is hsa-miR-1238-5p, miR-6880-5p is hsa-miR-6880-5p, miR-8072 is hsa-miR-8072, miR-4723-5p is hsa-miR-4723-5p, miR-4732-5p is hsa-miR-4732-5p, miR-6125 is hsa-miR-6125, miR-6090 is hsa-miR-6090, miR-7114-5p is hsa-miR-7114-5p, miR-564 is hsa-miR-564, miR-451a is hsa-miR-451a, miR-3135b is hsa-miR-3135b, miR-4497 is hsa-miR-4497, miR-4665-5p is hsa-miR-4665-5p, miR-3622a-5p is hsa-miR-3622a-5p, miR-6850-5p is hsa-miR-6850-5p, miR-6821-5p is hsa-miR-6821-5p, miR-5100 is hsa-miR-5100, miR-6872-3p is hsa-miR-6872-3p, miR-4433-3p is hsa-miR-4433-3p, miR-1227-5p is hsa-miR-1227-5p, miR-3188 is hsa-miR-3188, miR-7704 is hsa-miR-7704, miR-3185 is hsa-miR-3185, miR-1908-3p is hsa-miR-1908-3p, miR-6781-5p is hsa-miR-6781-5p, miR-6805-5p is hsa-miR-6805-5p, miR-8089 is hsa-miR-8089, miR-665 is hsa-miR-665, miR-4486 is hsa-miR-4486, miR-6722-3p is hsa-miR-6722-3p, miR-1260a is hsa-miR-1260a, miR-4707-5p is hsa-miR-4707-5p, miR-6741-5p is hsa-miR-6741-5p, miR-1260b is hsa-miR-1260b, miR-1246 is hsa-miR-1246, miR-6845-5p is hsa-miR-6845-5p, miR-4638-5p is hsa-miR-4638-5p, miR-6085 is hsa-miR-6085, miR-1228-3p is hsa-miR-1228-3p, miR-4534 is hsa-miR-4534, miR-5585-3p is hsa-miR-5585-3p, miR-4741 is hsa-miR-4741, miR-4433b-3p is hsa-miR-4433b-3p, miR-197-5p is hsa-miR-197-5p, miR-718 is hsa-miR-718, miR-4513 is hsa-miR-4513, miR-4446-3p is hsa-miR-4446-3p, miR-619-5p is hsa-miR-619-5p, miR-6816-5p is hsa-miR-6816-5p, miR-6778-5p is hsa-miR-6778-5p, miR-24-3p is hsa-miR-24-3p, miR-1915-3p is hsa-miR-1915-3p, miR-4665-3p is hsa-miR-4665-3p, miR-4449 is hsa-miR-4449, miR-6889-5p is hsa-miR-6889-5p, miR-486-3p is hsa-miR-486-3p, miR-7113-3p is hsa-miR-7113-3p, miR-642a-3p is hsa-miR-642a-3p, miR-7847-3p is hsa-miR-7847-3p, miR-6768-5p is hsa-miR-6768-5p, miR-1290 is hsa-miR-1290, miR-7108-5p is hsa-miR-7108-5p, miR-92b-5p is hsa-miR-92b-5p, miR-663b is hsa-miR-663b, miR-3940-5p is hsa-miR-3940-5p, miR-4467 is hsa-miR-4467, miR-6858-5p is hsa-miR-6858-5p, miR-4417 is hsa-miR-4417, miR-3665 is hsa-miR-3665, miR-4736 is hsa-miR-4736, miR-4687-3p is hsa-miR-4687-3p, miR-1908-5p is hsa-miR-1908-5p, miR-5195-3p is hsa-miR-5195-3p, miR-4286 is hsa-miR-4286, miR-3679-3p is hsa-miR-3679-3p, miR-6791-5p is hsa-miR-6791-5p, miR-1202 is hsa-miR-1202, miR-3656 is hsa-miR-3656, miR-4746-3p is hsa-miR-4746-3p, miR-3184-5p is hsa-miR-3184-5p, miR-3937 is hsa-miR-3937, miR-6515-3p is hsa-miR-6515-3p, miR-6132 is hsa-miR-6132, miR-187-5p is hsa-miR-187-5p, miR-7111-5p is hsa-miR-7111-5p, miR-5787 is hsa-miR-5787, miR-6779-5p is hsa-miR-6779-5p, miR-4516 is hsa-miR-4516, miR-4649-5p is hsa-miR-4649-5p, miR-760 is hsa-miR-760, miR-3162-5p is hsa-miR-3162-5p, miR-3178 is hsa-miR-3178, miR-940 is hsa-miR-940, miR-4271 is hsa-miR-4271, miR-6769b-5p is hsa-miR-6769b-5p, miR-4508 is hsa-miR-4508, miR-6826-5p is hsa-miR-6826-5p, miR-6757-5p is hsa-miR-6757-5p, miR-3131 is hsa-miR-3131, and miR-1343-3p is hsa-miR-1343-3p.

In a preferred embodiment of the method of the present invention, specifically, the nucleic acid (specifically, probe or primer) is selected from the group consisting of the following polynucleotides (a) to (e):

(a) a polynucleotide consisting of a nucleotide sequence represented by any of SEQ ID NOs: 1 to 125 and 466 to 478 or a nucleotide sequence derived from the nucleotide sequence by the replacement of u with t, a variant thereof, a derivative thereof, or a fragment thereof comprising 15 or more consecutive nucleotides, (b) a polynucleotide comprising a nucleotide sequence represented by any of SEQ ID NOs: 1 to 125 and 466 to 478, (c) a polynucleotide consisting of a nucleotide sequence complementary to a nucleotide sequence represented by any of SEQ ID NOs: 1 to 125 and 466 to 478, or a nucleotide sequence derived from the nucleotide sequence by the replacement of u with t, a variant thereof, a derivative thereof, or a fragment thereof comprising 15 or more consecutive nucleotides, (d) a polynucleotide comprising a nucleotide sequence complementary to a nucleotide sequence represented by any of SEQ ID NOs: 1 to 125 and 466 to 478 or a nucleotide sequence derived from the nucleotide sequence by the replacement of u with t, and (e) a polynucleotide hybridizing under stringent conditions to any of the polynucleotides (a) to (d).

In the method of the present invention, nucleic acid(s) capable of specifically binding to at least one or more polynucleotide(s) selected from the followings: miR-6808-5p, miR-6774-5p, miR-4656, miR-6806-5p, miR-1233-5p, miR-328-5p, miR-4674, miR-2110, miR-6076, miR-3619-3p, miR-92a-2-5p, miR-128-1-5p, miR-638, miR-2861, miR-371a-5p, miR-211-3p, miR-1273g-3p, miR-1203, miR-122-5p, miR-4258, miR-4484, miR-4648, miR-6780b-5p, miR-4516, miR-4649-5p, miR-760, miR-3162-5p, miR-3178, miR-940, miR-4271, miR-6769b-5p, miR-4508, miR-6826-5p, miR-6757-5p, miR-3131, and miR-1343-3p may be further used.

In a preferred embodiment, such a nucleic acid is specifically as follows: miR-6808-5p is hsa-miR-6808-5p, miR-6774-5p is hsa-miR-6774-5p, miR-4656 is hsa-miR-4656, miR-6806-5p is hsa-miR-6806-5p, miR-1233-5p is hsa-miR-1233-5p, miR-328-5p is hsa-miR-328-5p, miR-4674 is hsa-miR-4674, miR-2110 is hsa-miR-2110, miR-6076 is hsa-miR-6076, miR-3619-3p is hsa-miR-3619-3p, miR-92a-2-5p is hsa-miR-92a-2-5p, miR-128-1-5p is hsa-miR-128-1-5p, miR-638 is hsa-miR-638, miR-2861 is hsa-miR-2861, miR-371a-5p is hsa-miR-371a-5p, miR-211-3p is hsa-miR-211-3p, miR-1273g-3p is hsa-miR-1273g-3p, miR-1203 is hsa-miR-1203, miR-122-5p is hsa-miR-122-5p, miR-4258 is hsa-miR-4258, miR-4484 is hsa-miR-4484, miR-4648 is hsa-miR-4648, miR-6780b-5p is hsa-miR-6780b-5p, miR-4516 is hsa-miR-4516, miR-4649-5p is hsa-miR-4649-5p, miR-760 is hsa-miR-760, miR-3162-5p is hsa-miR-3162-5p, miR-3178 is hsa-miR-3178, miR-940 is hsa-miR-940, miR-4271 is hsa-miR-4271, miR-6769b-5p is hsa-miR-6769b-5p, miR-4508 is hsa-miR-4508, miR-6826-5p is hsa-miR-6826-5p, miR-6757-5p is hsa-miR-6757-5p, miR-3131 is hsa-miR-3131, and miR-1343-3p is hsa-miR-1343-3p.

In a preferred embodiment, specifically, such a nucleic acid is further selected from the group consisting of the following polynucleotides (f) to (j):

(f) a polynucleotide consisting of a nucleotide sequence represented by any of SEQ ID NOs: 126 to 148 or a nucleotide sequence derived from the nucleotide sequence by the replacement of u with t, a variant thereof, a derivative thereof, or a fragment thereof comprising 15 or more consecutive nucleotides, (g) a polynucleotide comprising a nucleotide sequence represented by any of SEQ ID NOs: 126 to 148, (h) a polynucleotide consisting of a nucleotide sequence complementary to a nucleotide sequence represented by any of SEQ ID NOs: 126 to 148 or a nucleotide sequence derived from the nucleotide sequence by the replacement of u with t, a variant thereof, a derivative thereof, or a fragment thereof that comprises 15 or more consecutive nucleotides, (i) a polynucleotide comprising a nucleotide sequence complementary to a nucleotide sequence represented by any of SEQ ID NOs: 126 to 148 or a nucleotide sequence derived from the nucleotide sequence by the replacement of u with t, and (j) a polynucleotide hybridizing under stringent conditions to any of the polynucleotides (f) to (i).

Examples of the sample used in the method of the present invention can include samples prepared from a living tissue (preferably a biliary tract tissue) or a body fluid such as blood, serum, plasma, or urine of the subject. Specifically, for example, an RNA-containing sample prepared from the tissue, a polynucleotide-containing sample further prepared therefrom, a body fluid such as blood, serum, plasma, or urine, a portion or the whole of a living tissue collected from the subject by biopsy or the like, or a living tissue excised by surgery can be used, and the sample for measurement can be prepared therefrom.

The subject used herein refers to a mammal, for example, a human, a monkey, a mouse and a rat, without any limitation, and is preferably a human.

The steps of the method of the present invention can be changed according to the type of the sample to be assayed.

In the case of using RNA as an analyte, the detection of biliary tract cancer (cells) may comprise, for example, the following steps (a), (b), and (c):

(a) binding RNA prepared from the sample of a subject or a complementary polynucleotide (cDNA) transcribed therefrom to a polynucleotide in the kit or the device of the present invention;

(b) measuring the sample-derived RNA or the cDNA synthesized from the RNA, bound with the polynucleotide by hybridization using the polynucleotide as a nucleic acid probe or by quantitative RT-PCR using the polynucleotide as a primer; and

(c) evaluating the presence or absence of biliary tract cancer (or biliary tract cancer-derived gene expression) on the basis of the measurement results of the step (b).

For example, various hybridization methods can be used for detecting, examining, evaluating, or diagnosing biliary tract cancer (or biliary tract cancer-derived gene expression) in vitro according to the present invention. For example, Northern blot, Southern blot, RT-PCR, DNA chip analysis, in situ hybridization, Northern hybridization, or Southern hybridization can be used as such a hybridization method.

In the case of using the Northern blot, the presence or absence of expression of each gene or the expression level thereof in the RNA can be detected or measured by use of the nucleic acid probe that can be used in the present invention. Specific examples thereof can include a method which comprises labeling the nucleic acid probe (or a complementary strand) with a radioisotope (³²P, ³⁵P, ³⁵S, etc.), a fluorescent material, or the like, hybridizing the labeled product with the living tissue-derived RNA from the subject, which is transferred to a nylon membrane or the like according to a routine method, and then detecting and measuring a signal derived from the label (radioisotope or fluorescent material) on the formed DNA/RNA duplex using a radiation detector (examples thereof can include BAS-1800 II (Fujifilm Corp.)) or a fluorescence detector (examples thereof can include STORM 865 (GE Healthcare Japan Corp.)).

In the case of using the quantitative RT-PCR, the presence or absence of expression of each gene or the expression level thereof in the RNA can be detected or measured by use of the primer that can be used in the present invention. Specific examples thereof can include a method which comprises preparing cDNA from the living tissue-derived RNA of the subject according to a routine method, hybridizing a pair of primers (that consist of a plus strand and a reverse strand binding to the cDNA) of the present invention with the cDNA such that the region of each target gene can be amplified with the cDNA as a template, and performing PCR according to a routine method to detect the obtained double-stranded DNA. The method for detecting the double-stranded DNA can include a method of performing the PCR using the primers labeled in advance with a radioisotope or a fluorescent material, a method of electrophoresing the PCR product on an agarose gel and staining the double-stranded DNA with ethidium bromide or the like for detection, and a method of transferring the produced double-stranded DNA to a nylon membrane or the like according to a routine method and hybridizing the double-stranded DNA to a labeled nucleic acid probe for detection.

In the case of using the nucleic acid array analysis, an RNA chip or a DNA chip in which the nucleic acid probes (single-stranded or double-stranded) of the present invention are attached to a substrate (solid phase) is used. Regions having the attached nucleic acid probes are referred to as probe spots, and regions having no attached nucleic acid probe are referred to as blank spots. A group of genes immobilized on a solid-phase substrate is generally called a nucleic acid chip, a nucleic acid array, a microarray, or the like. The DNA or RNA array includes a DNA or RNA macroarray and a DNA or RNA microarray. The term “chip” used herein includes all of these arrays. 3D-Gene® Human miRNA Oligo chip (Toray Industries, Inc.) can be used as the DNA chip, though the DNA chip is not limited thereto.

Examples of the measurement using the DNA chip can include, but are not limited to, a method of detecting and measuring a signal derived from the label on the nucleic acid probe using an image detector (examples thereof can include Typhoon 9410 (GE Healthcare Japan Corp.) and 3D-Gene® scanner (Toray Industries, Inc.)).

The “stringent conditions” used herein are, as mentioned above, conditions under which a nucleic acid probe hybridizes to its target sequence to a larger extent (e.g., a measurement value equal to or larger than a mean of background measurement values+a standard deviation of the background measurement values×2) than that for other sequences.

The stringent conditions are defined by conditions for hybridization and subsequent washing. Examples of the hybridization conditions include, but not limited to, 30° C. to 60° C. for 1 to 24 hours in a solution containing SSC, a surfactant, formamide, dextran sulfate, a blocking agent, etc. In this context, 1×SSC is an aqueous solution (pH 7.0) that contains 150 mM sodium chloride and 15 mM sodium citrate. The surfactant includes, for example, SDS (sodium dodecyl sulfate), Triton, or Tween. The hybridization conditions more preferably comprise 3 to 10×SSC and 0.1 to 1% SDS. Examples of the conditions for the washing, following the hybridization, which is another condition to define the stringent conditions, can include conditions comprising continuous washing at 30° C. in a solution containing 0.5×SSC and 0.1% SDS, at 30° C. in a solution containing 0.2×SSC and 0.1% SDS, and at 30° C. in a 0.05×SSC solution. It is desirable that the complementary strand should maintain its hybridized state with a target plus strand even by the washing under such conditions. Specifically, examples of such a complementary strand can include a strand consisting of a nucleotide sequence in a completely complementary relationship with the nucleotide sequence of the target plus (+) strand, and a strand consisting of a nucleotide sequence having at least 80%, preferably at least 85%, more preferably at least 90% or at least 95%, for example, at least 98% or at least 99% identity to the strand.

Other examples of the “stringent conditions” for the hybridization are described in, for example, Sambrook, J. & Russel, D., Molecular Cloning, A LABORATORY MANUAL, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press, published on Jan. 15, 2001, Vol. 1, 7.42 to 7.45 and Vol. 2, 8.9 to 8.17, and can be used in the present invention.

Examples of the conditions for carrying out PCR using a polynucleotide fragment in the kit of the present invention as a primer include treatment for approximately 15 seconds to 1 minute at 5 to 10° C. plus a Tm value calculated from the sequence of the primer, using a PCR buffer having composition such as 10 mM Tris-HCL (pH 8.3), 50 mM KCL, and 1 to 2 mM MgCl₂. Examples of the method for calculating such a Tm value include Tm value=2×(the number of adenine residues+the number of thymine residues)+4×(the number of guanine residues+the number of cytosine residues).

In the case of using the quantitative RT-PCR, a commercially available kit for measurement specially designed for quantitatively measuring miRNA, such as TaqMan® MicroRNA Assays (Life Technologies Corp.), LNA®-based MicroRNA PCR (Exiqon), or Ncode® miRNA qRT-PCT kit (Invitrogen Corp.) may be used.

For the calculation of gene expression levels, statistical analysis described in, for example, Statistical analysis of gene expression microarray data (Speed T., Chapman and Hall/CRC), and A beginner's guide Microarray gene expression data analysis (Causton H. C. et al., Blackwell publishing) can be used in the present invention, though the calculation method is not limited thereto. For example, twice, preferably 3 times, more preferably 6 times the standard deviation of the measurement values of the blank spots are added to the average measurement value of the blank spots on the DNA chip, and probe spots having a signal value equal to or larger than the resulting value can be regarded as detection spots. Alternatively, the average measurement value of the blank spots is regarded as a background and can be subtracted from the measurement values of the probe spots to determine gene expression levels. A missing value for a gene expression level can be excluded from the analyte, preferably replaced with the smallest value of the gene expression level in each DNA chip, or more preferably replaced with a value obtained by subtracting 0.1 from a logarithmic value of the smallest value of the gene expression level. In order to eliminate low-signal genes, only a gene having a gene expression level of 2⁶, preferably 2⁸, more preferably 2¹⁰, or larger, in 20% or more, preferably 50% or more, more preferably 80% or more of the number of measurement samples can be selected as the analyte. Examples of the normalization of the gene expression level include, but are not limited to, global normalization and quantile normalization (Bolstad, B. M. et al., 2003, Bioinformatics, Vol. 19, p. 185-193).

The present invention also provides a method comprising measuring a target gene or gene expression level in a sample derived from a subject using the polynucleotide, the kit, or the device (e.g., chip) for detection of the present invention, or a combination thereof, preparing a discriminant (discriminant function) with gene expression levels in a sample derived from a biliary tract cancer patient and a sample derived from a healthy subject as supervising samples, and determining or evaluating the presence and/or absence of the biliary tract cancer-derived gene in the sample.

Specifically, the present invention further provides the method comprising: a first step of measuring in vitro an expression level of a target gene (target nucleic acid) in multiple samples known to determine or evaluate the presence or absence of the biliary tract cancer-derived gene in the samples, using the polynucleotide, the kit, or the device (e.g., chip) for detection of the present invention, or a combination thereof; a second step of preparing a discriminant with the measurement values of the expression level of the target gene obtained in the first step as supervising samples; a third step of measuring in vitro an expression level of the target gene in a sample derived from a subject in the same way as in the first step; and a fourth step of substituting the measurement value of the expression level of the target gene obtained in the third step into the discriminant obtained in the second step, and determining or evaluating the presence and/or absence of the biliary tract cancer-derived gene in the sample on the basis of the results obtained from the discriminant, wherein the target gene can be detected using the polynucleotide or using a polynucleotide for detection contained in the kit or the device (e.g., chip). In this context, the discriminant can be prepared by use of Fisher's linear discriminant analysis, nonlinear discriminant analysis based on Mahalanobis' distance, neural network, Support Vector Machine (SVM), or the like, though the method is not limited thereto.

When a clustering boundary is a straight line or a hyperplane, the linear discriminant analysis is a method for determining the association of a cluster using Formula 1 as a discriminant. In Formula 1, x represents an explanatory variable, w represents a coefficient of the explanatory variable, and wo represents a constant term.

$\begin{matrix} {{f(x)} = {w_{0} + {\sum\limits_{i = 1}^{n}{w_{i}x_{i}}}}} & {{Formula}1} \end{matrix}$

Values obtained from the discriminant are referred to as discriminant scores. The measurement values of a newly offered data set can be substituted as explanatory variables into the discriminant to determine clusters on the basis of the signs of the discriminant scores.

The Fisher's linear discriminant analysis, one type of linear discriminant analysis, is a dimensionality reduction method for selecting a dimension suitable for discriminating classes, and constructs a highly discriminating synthetic variable by focusing on the variance of the synthetic variables and minimizing the variance of data that has the same label (Venables, W. N. et al., Modern Applied Statistics with S. Fourth edition. Springer., 2002). In the Fisher's linear discriminant analysis, direction w of projection is determined so as to maximize Formula 2. In Formula 2, μ represents an average input, ng represents the number of data associated to class g, and μg represents an average input of the data associated to class g. The numerator and the denominator are interclass variance and intraclass variance, respectively, when each data is projected in the direction of the vector w. Discriminant coefficient w, is determined by maximizing this ratio (Takafumi Kanamori et al., “Pattern Recognition”, Kyoritsu Shuppan Co., Ltd. (2009); and Richard O. et al., Pattern Classification Second Edition., Wiley-Interscience, 2000).

$\begin{matrix} {{J(w)} = \frac{\sum\limits_{g = 1}^{G}{{n_{g}\left( {{w^{T}\mu_{g}} - {w^{T}\mu}} \right)}\left( {{w^{T}\mu_{g}} - {w^{T}\mu}} \right)^{T}}}{\sum\limits_{g = 1}^{G}{\sum\limits_{{i:y_{i}} = g}{\left( {{w^{T}x_{i}} - {w^{T}\mu_{g}}} \right)\left( {{w^{T}x_{i}} - {w^{T}\mu_{g}}} \right)}}}} & {{Formula}2} \end{matrix}$ ${subject}{to}\begin{matrix} {{\mu = {\sum\limits_{i = 1}^{n}\frac{x_{i}}{n}}},} & {\mu_{g} = {\sum\limits_{{i:u_{i}} = g}^{n}\frac{x_{i}}{n_{g}}}} \end{matrix}$

The Mahalanobis' distance is calculated according to Formula 3 in consideration of data correlation and can be used as nonlinear discriminant analysis for determining a cluster to which a data point is associated, based on a short Mahalanobis' distance from the data point to that cluster. In Formula 3, μ represents a central vector of each cluster, and S⁻¹ represents an inverse matrix of the variance-covariance matrix of the cluster. The central vector is calculated from explanatory variable x, and an average vector, a median value vector, or the like can be used.

$\begin{matrix} {{D\left( {x,\mu} \right)} = \left\{ {\left( {x - \mu} \right)^{t}{S^{- 1}\left( {x - \mu} \right)}} \right\}^{\frac{1}{2}}} & {{Formula}3} \end{matrix}$

SVM is a discriminant analysis method devised by V. Vapnik (The Nature of Statistical Leaning Theory, Springer, 1995). Particular data points of a data set that has known classes are defined as explanatory variables, and classes are defined as objective variables. A boundary plane called hyperplane for correctly classifying the data set into the known classes is determined, and a discriminant for data classification is determined using the boundary plane. Then, the measurement values of a newly offered data set can be substituted as explanatory variables into the discriminant to determine classes. In this respect, the result of the discriminant analysis may be classes, may be a probability of being classified into correct classes, or may be the distance from the hyperplane. In SVM, a method of nonlinearly converting a feature vector to a high dimension and performing linear discriminant analysis in the space is known as a method for tackling nonlinear problems. An expression in which an inner product of two factors in a nonlinearly mapped space is expressed only by inputs in their original spaces is called kernel. Examples of the kernel can include a linear kernel, a RBF (radial basis function) kernel, and a Gaussian kernel. While highly dimensional mapping is performed according to the kernel, the optimum discriminant, i.e., a discriminant, can be actually constructed by mere calculation according to the kernel, which avoids calculating features in the mapped space (e.g., Hideki Aso et al., Frontier of Statistical Science 6 “Statistics of pattern recognition and learning—New concepts and approaches”, Iwanami Shoten, Publishers (2004); Nello Cristianini et al., Introduction to SVM, Kyoritsu Shuppan Co., Ltd. (2008)).

C-support vector classification (C-SVC), one type of SVM, comprises preparing a hyperplane by supervising with the explanatory variables of two groups and classifying an unknown data set into either of the groups (C. Cortes et al., 1995, Machine Learning, Vol. 20, p. 273-297).

Exemplary calculation of the C-SVC discriminant that can be used in the method of the present invention is given below. First, all subjects are divided into two groups, i.e., a biliary tract cancer patient group and a healthy subject group. For example, biliary tract tissue examination can be used for confirming each subject either as a biliary tract patient or as a healthy subject.

Next, a data set consisting of comprehensive gene expression levels of serum-derived samples of the two divided groups (hereinafter, this data set is referred to as a training cohort) is prepared, and a C-SVC discriminant is determined by using genes found to differ clearly in their gene expression levels between the two groups as explanatory variables and objective variables (e.g., −1 and +1) that is this grouping. An optimizing objective function is represented by Formula 4 wherein e represents all input vectors, y represents an objective variable, a represents a Lagrange's undetermined multiplier vector, Q represents a positive definite matrix, and C represents a parameter for adjusting constrained conditions.

$\begin{matrix} {{\underset{a}{\min}\frac{1}{2}a^{T}Qa} - {e^{T}a}} & {{Formula}4} \end{matrix}$ ${subject}{to}{}\begin{matrix} {{{y^{T}a} = 0},} & {{0 \leq a_{i} \leq C},} & {{i = 1},\ldots,l,} \end{matrix}$

Formula 5 is a finally obtained discriminant, and a group to which the data point is associated can be determined on the basis of the sign of a value obtained according to the discriminant. In this formula, x represents a support vector, y represents a label indicating the associated group, a represents the corresponding coefficient, b represents a constant term, and K represents a kernel function.

$\begin{matrix} {{f(x)} = {{sgn}\left( {{\sum\limits_{i = 1}^{l}{y_{i}a_{i}{K\left( {x_{i},x} \right)}}} + b} \right)}} & {{Formula}5} \end{matrix}$

For example, a RBF kernel defined by Formula 6 can be used as the kernel function. In this formula, x represents a support vector, and y represents a kernel parameter for adjusting the complexity of the hyperplane. K(x _(i) ,x _(j))=exp(−r∥x _(i) −x _(j)∥²)r<0  Formula 6

In addition, an approach such as neural network, k-nearest neighbor algorithms, decision trees, or logistic regression analysis can be selected as a method for determining or evaluating the presence and/or absence of expression of a biliary tract cancer-derived target gene in a sample derived from a subject, or for evaluating the expression level thereof by comparison with a control derived from a healthy subject.

The method of the present invention can comprise, for example, the following steps (a), (b), and (c):

(a) measuring an expression level of a target gene in tissues containing biliary tract cancer-derived genes derived from biliary tract cancer patients and/or samples that are already known to contain no biliary tract cancer-derived gene derived from healthy subjects, using the polynucleotide, the kit, or the device (e.g., DNA chip) for detection according to the present invention;

(b) preparing the discriminants of Formulas 1 to 3, 5, and 6 described above from the measurement values of the expression level measured in the step (a); and

(c) measuring an expression level of the target gene in a sample derived from a subject using the polynucleotide, the kit, or the device (e.g., DNA chip) for detection according to the present invention, substituting the measurement value into the discriminants prepared in the step (b), and determining or evaluating the presence and/or absence of the biliary tract cancer-derived target gene in the sample, or evaluating the expression level thereof by comparison with a healthy subject-derived control, on the basis of the obtained results. In this context, in the discriminants of Formulas 1 to 3, 5, and 6, x represents an explanatory variable and includes a value obtained by measuring a polynucleotide selected from the polynucleotides described above in Section 2, or a fragment thereof, etc. Specifically, the explanatory variable for discriminating a biliary tract cancer patient from a healthy subject according to the present invention is a gene expression level selected from, for example, the following expression levels (1) to (2):

(1) a gene expression level in the serum of a biliary tract cancer patient or a healthy subject measured by any DNA comprising 15 or more consecutive nucleotides in a nucleotide sequence represented by any of SEQ ID NOs: 1 to 125 and 466 to 478 or a complementary sequence thereof, and

(2) a gene expression level in the serum of a biliary tract cancer patient or a healthy subject measured by any DNA comprising 15 or more consecutive nucleotides in a nucleotide sequence represented by any of SEQ ID NOs: 126 to 148 or a complementary sequence thereof.

As described above, for the method for determining or evaluating the presence and/or absence of a biliary tract cancer-derived gene in a sample derived from a subject, the preparation of a discriminant requires a discriminant prepared in a training cohort. For enhancing the discrimination accuracy of the discriminant, it is necessary for the discriminant to use genes that show clear difference between two groups in the training cohort when preparing the discriminant.

Each gene that is used for an explanatory variable in a discriminant is preferably determined as follows. First, comprehensive gene expression levels of a biliary tract cancer patient group and comprehensive gene expression levels of a healthy subject group, both of which are in a training cohort, are used as a data set, the degree of difference in the expression level of each gene between the two groups is determined through the use of, for example, the P value of t test, which is parametric analysis, or the P value of Mann-Whitney's U test or Wilcoxon test, which is nonparametric analysis.

The gene can be regarded as being statistically significant when the critical rate (significance level) of the P value obtained by the test is smaller than, for example, 5%, 1%, or 0.01%.

In order to correct an increased probability of type I error attributed to the repetition of a test, a method known in the art, for example, Bonferroni or Holm method, can be used for the correction (e.g., Yasushi Nagata et al., “Basics of statistical multiple comparison methods”, Scientist Press Co., Ltd. (2007)). As an example of the Bonferroni correction, for example, the P value obtained by a test is multiplied by the number of repetitions of the test, i.e., the number of genes used in the analysis, and the obtained value can be compared with a desired significance level to suppress a probability of causing type I error in the whole test.

Instead of the test, the absolute value (fold change) of an expression ratio of a median value of each gene expression level between gene expression levels of a biliary tract cancer patient group and gene expression levels of a healthy subject group may be calculated to select a gene that is used for an explanatory variable in a discriminant. Alternatively, ROC curves may be prepared using gene expression levels of a biliary tract cancer patient group and a healthy subject group, and a gene that is used for an explanatory variable in a discriminant can be selected on the basis of an AUROC value.

Next, a discriminant that can be calculated by various methods described above is prepared using any number of genes having large difference in their gene expression levels determined here. Examples of the method for constructing a discriminant that produces the largest discrimination accuracy include a method of constructing a discriminant in every combination of genes that satisfy the significance level being a P value, and a method of repetitively evaluating the genes for use in the construction of a discriminant while increasing the number of genes one by one in a descending order of difference in gene expression level (Furey T S. et al., 2000, Bioinformatics., Vol. 16, p. 906-14). A gene expression level of another independent biliary tract cancer patient or healthy subject is substituted as an explanatory variable into this discriminant to calculate discrimination results of the group to which this independent biliary tract cancer patient or healthy subject is associated. Specifically, the found gene set for diagnosis and the discriminant constructed using the gene set for diagnosis can be evaluated in an independent sample cohort to find a more universal gene set for diagnosis capable of detecting biliary tract cancer and a more universal method for discriminating biliary tract cancer.

Split-sample method is preferably used for evaluating the discriminant performance (generality) of the discriminant. Specifically, a data set is divided into a training cohort and a validation cohort, and gene selection by a statistical test and discriminant preparation are performed using the training cohort. To evaluate the performance of the discriminant, accuracy, sensitivity, and specificity are calculated using a result of discriminant analysis in a validation cohort according to the discriminant and a true group to which the validation cohort is associated. On the other hand, instead of dividing a data set, the gene selection by a statistical test and discriminant preparation may be performed using all of samples, and accuracy, sensitivity, and specificity can be calculated by the discriminant analysis using a newly prepared sample cohort for evaluation of the performance of the discriminant.

The present invention provides a polynucleotide for detection or for disease diagnosis useful in the diagnosis and treatment of biliary tract cancer, a method for detecting biliary tract cancer using the polynucleotide, and a kit and a device for the detection of biliary tract cancer, comprising the polynucleotide. Particularly, in order to select a gene for diagnosis and prepare a discriminant so as to exhibit accuracy beyond a biliary tract cancer diagnostic method using existing tumor markers CEA and CA19-9, a gene set for diagnosis and a discriminant for the method of the present invention can be constructed, which exhibit accuracy beyond CEA and CA19-9, for example, by comparing expressed genes in serum derived from a patient confirmed to be negative using CEA and CA19-9 but finally found to have biliary tract cancer by detailed examination such as computed tomography using a contrast medium, with genes expressed in serum derived from a patient having no biliary tract cancer.

For example, the gene set for diagnosis is set to any combination selected from one or two or more of the polynucleotides based on a nucleotide sequence represented by any of SEQ ID NOs: 1 to 125 and 466 to 478 or a complementary sequence thereof as described above; and optionally one or two or more of the polynucleotides based on a nucleotide sequence represented by any of SEQ ID NOs: 126 to 148 or a complementary sequence thereof. Further, a discriminant is constructed using expression levels of the gene set for diagnosis in samples derived from class I biliary tract cancer patients as a result of tissue diagnosis and samples derived from class II healthy subjects as a result of tissue diagnosis. As a result, the presence or absence of biliary tract cancer-derived genes in an unknown sample can be determined with 100% accuracy at the maximum by measuring expression levels of the gene set for diagnosis in an unknown sample.

EXAMPLES

Hereinafter, the present invention is described further specifically with reference to Examples below. However, the scope of the present invention is not intended to be limited by these Examples.

Reference Example 1

<Collection of Samples from Biliary Tract Cancer Patients and Healthy Subjects>

Sera were collected using VENOJECT II vacuum blood collecting tube VP-AS109K60 (Terumo Corp.) from 100 healthy subjects and 67 biliary tract cancer patients (1 case with stage IA, 8 cases with stage IB, 8 cases with stage II, 3 cases with stage IIA, 5 cases with stage IIB, 14 cases with stage III, 2 cases with stage IIIB, 1 case with stage IVa, and 25 cases with stage IVb) confirmed to have no primary cancer in organs other than the biliary tract after acquisition of informed consent, and used as a training cohort. Likewise, sera were collected using VENOJECT II vacuum blood collecting tube VP-AS109K60 (Terumo Corp.) from 50 healthy subjects and 33 biliary tract cancer patients (1 case with stage 0, 2 cases with stage I, 1 case with stage IA, 2 cases with stage IB, 2 cases with stage II, 5 cases with stage IIA, 4 cases with stage IIB, 5 cases with stage III, 1 case with stage IV, 1 case with stage IVa, and 9 cases with stage IVb) confirmed to have no primary cancer in organs other than biliary tract after acquisition of informed consent, and used as a validation cohort.

<Extraction of Total RNA>

Total RNA was obtained from 300 μL of the serum sample obtained from each of 250 persons in total of 150 healthy subjects and 100 biliary tract cancer patients included in the training cohort and the validation cohort, using a reagent for RNA extraction in 3D-Gene® RNA extraction reagent from liquid sample kit (Toray Industries, Inc.) according to the protocol provided by the manufacturer.

<Measurement of Gene Expression Level>

miRNAs in the total RNA obtained from the serum samples of each of 250 persons in total of 150 healthy subjects and 100 biliary tract cancer patients included in the training cohort and the validation cohort were fluorescently labeled using 3D-Gene® miRNA Labeling kit (Toray Industries, Inc.) according to the protocol (ver. 2.20) provided by the manufacturer. The oligo DNA chip used was 3D-Gene® Human miRNA Oligo chip (Toray Industries, Inc.) with attached probes having sequences complementary to 2,555 miRNAs among the miRNAs registered in miRBase Release 20. Hybridization between the miRNAs in the total RNA and the probes on the DNA chip under stringent conditions and washing following the hybridization were performed according to the protocol provided by the manufacturer. The DNA chip was scanned using 3D-Gene® scanner (Toray Industries, Inc.) to obtain images. Fluorescence intensity was digitized using 3D-Gene® Extraction (Toray Industries, Inc.). The digitized fluorescence intensity was converted to a logarithmic value having a base of 2 and used as a gene expression level, from which a blank value was subtracted. A missing value was replaced with a value obtained by subtracting 0.1 from a logarithmic value of the smallest value of the gene expression level in each DNA chip. As a result, the comprehensive gene expression levels of the miRNAs in the sera were obtained for the 100 biliary tract cancer patients and the 150 healthy subjects. Calculation and statistical analysis using the digitized gene expression levels of the miRNAs were carried out using R language 3.0.2 (R Development Core Team (2013). R: A language and environment for statistical computing. R Foundation for Statistical Computing, URL http://www.R-project.org/.) and MASS package 7.3-30 (Venables, W. N. & Ripley, B. D. (2002) Modem Applied Statistics with S. Fourth Edition. Springer, New York. ISBN 0-387-95457-0).

Reference Example 2

<Collection of Samples from Patients with Other Cancers and Benign Diseases>

Sera were collected using VENOJECT II vacuum blood collecting tube VP-AS109K60 (Terumo Corp.) from each of 35 colorectal cancer patients, 37 stomach cancer patients, 32 esophageal cancer patients, 38 liver cancer patients, and 13 benign pancreaticobiliary disease patients confirmed to have no cancer in other organs after acquisition of informed consent, and used as a training cohort together with the samples of 67 biliary tract cancer patients (1 case with stage 0, 2 cases with stage I, 1 case with stage IA, 4 cases with stage IB, 8 cases with stage II, 4 cases with stage IIA, 6 cases with stage IIB, 14 cases with stage III, 1 case with stage IIIB, 25 cases with stage IV, and 1 case with stage IVa) and 93 healthy subjects of Reference Example 1. Likewise, sera were collected using VENOJECT II vacuum blood collecting tube VP-AS109K60 (Terumo Corp.) from each of 15 colorectal cancer patients, 13 stomach cancer patients, 18 esophageal cancer patients, 12 liver cancer patients, and 8 benign pancreaticobiliary disease patients confirmed to have no cancer in other organs after acquisition of informed consent, and used as a validation cohort together with the samples of 33 biliary tract cancer patients (1 case with stage IA, 6 cases with stage IB, 2 cases with stage II, 4 cases with stage 3 cases with stage IIB, 5 cases with stage III, 1 case with stage IIIB, and 11 cases with stage IV) and 57 healthy subjects of Reference Example 1. Subsequent extraction of total RNA and measurement and analysis of gene expression levels were conducted in the same way as in Reference Example 1.

Example 1

<Selection of Gene Marker Using Samples in the Training Cohort, and Method for Evaluating Cancer Discriminant Performance of Single Gene Marker Using Samples in the Validation Cohort>

In this Example, a gene marker for discriminating a biliary tract cancer patient from a healthy subject was selected from the training cohort, and a method for evaluating biliary tract cancer discriminant performance of each selected gene marker alone was studied in samples of the validation cohort independent from the training cohort.

Specifically, first, the miRNA expression levels of the training cohort and the validation cohort obtained in Reference Example 1 above were combined and normalized by quantile normalization.

Next, genes for diagnosis were selected using the training cohort. Here, in order to acquire diagnostic markers with higher reliability, only genes having the gene expression level of 2⁶ or higher in 50% or more of the samples in either of the biliary tract cancer patient group in the training cohort or the healthy subject group in the training cohort were selected. In order to further acquire statistically significant genes for discriminating a biliary tract cancer patient group from a healthy subject group, the P value obtained by two-tailed t-test assuming equal variance as to each gene expression level was corrected by the Bonferroni method, and genes that satisfied p<0.01 were acquired as gene markers for use in explanatory variables of a discriminant. The obtained genes are described in Table 2.

In this way, hsa-miR-125a-3p, hsa-miR-6893-5p, hsa-miR-204-3p, hsa-miR-4476, hsa-miR-4294, hsa-miR-150-3p, hsa-miR-6729-5p, hsa-miR-7641, hsa-miR-6765-3p, hsa-miR-6820-5p, hsa-miR-575, hsa-miR-6836-3p, hsa-miR-1469, hsa-miR-663a, hsa-miR-6075, hsa-miR-4634, hsa-miR-423-5p, hsa-miR-4454, hsa-miR-7109-5p, hsa-miR-6789-5p, hsa-miR-6877-5p, hsa-miR-4792, hsa-miR-4530, hsa-miR-7975, hsa-miR-6724-5p, hsa-miR-8073, hsa-miR-7977, hsa-miR-1231, hsa-miR-6799-5p, hsa-miR-615-5p, hsa-miR-4450, hsa-miR-6726-5p, hsa-miR-6875-5p, hsa-miR-4734, hsa-miR-16-5p, hsa-miR-602, hsa-miR-4651, hsa-miR-8069, hsa-miR-1238-5p, hsa-miR-6880-5p, hsa-miR-8072, hsa-miR-4723-5p, hsa-miR-4732-5p, hsa-miR-6125, hsa-miR-6090, hsa-miR-7114-5p, hsa-miR-564, hsa-miR-451a, hsa-miR-3135b, hsa-miR-4497, hsa-miR-4665-5p, hsa-miR-3622a-5p, hsa-miR-6850-5p, hsa-miR-6821-5p, hsa-miR-5100, hsa-miR-6872-3p, hsa-miR-4433-3p, hsa-miR-1227-5p, hsa-miR-3188, hsa-miR-7704, hsa-miR-3185, hsa-miR-1908-3p, hsa-miR-6781-5p, hsa-miR-6805-5p, hsa-miR-8089, hsa-miR-665, hsa-miR-4486, hsa-miR-6722-3p, hsa-miR-1260a, hsa-miR-4707-5p, hsa-miR-6741-5p, hsa-miR-1260b, hsa-miR-1246, hsa-miR-6845-5p, hsa-miR-4638-5p, hsa-miR-6085, hsa-miR-1228-3p, hsa-miR-4534, hsa-miR-5585-3p, hsa-miR-4741, hsa-miR-4433b-3p, hsa-miR-197-5p, hsa-miR-718, hsa-miR-4513, hsa-miR-4446-3p, hsa-miR-619-5p, hsa-miR-6816-5p, hsa-miR-6778-5p, hsa-miR-24-3p, hsa-miR-1915-3p, hsa-miR-4665-3p, hsa-miR-4449, hsa-miR-6889-5p, hsa-miR-486-3p, hsa-miR-7113-3p, hsa-miR-642a-3p, hsa-miR-7847-3p, hsa-miR-6768-5p, hsa-miR-1290, hsa-miR-7108-5p, hsa-miR-92b-5p, hsa-miR-663b, hsa-miR-3940-5p, hsa-miR-4467, hsa-miR-6858-5p, hsa-miR-4417, hsa-miR-3665, hsa-miR-4736, hsa-miR-4687-3p, hsa-miR-1908-5p, hsa-miR-5195-3p, hsa-miR-4286, hsa-miR-3679-3p, hsa-miR-6791-5p, hsa-miR-1202, hsa-miR-3656, hsa-miR-4746-3p, hsa-miR-3184-5p, hsa-miR-3937, hsa-miR-6515-3p, hsa-miR-6132, hsa-miR-187-5p, hsa-miR-7111-5p, hsa-miR-5787 and hsa-miR-6779-5p genes represented by SEQ ID NOs: 1 to 125 related thereto were found as biliary tract cancer markers relative to the healthy subjects.

A discriminant for determining the presence or absence of biliary tract cancer was further prepared by Fisher's linear discriminant analysis with the expression levels of these genes as an indicator. Specifically, any newly found polynucleotide consisting of a nucleotide sequence represented by any of SEQ ID NOs: 1 to 125 among the 125 genes selected in the training cohort was applied to Formula 2 to construct a discriminant. Calculated accuracy, sensitivity, and specificity are shown in Table 3. In this respect, a discriminant coefficient and a constant term are shown in Table 4.

Accuracy, sensitivity, and specificity in the validation cohort were calculated using the discriminant thus prepared, and the discriminant performance of the selected polynucleotides was validated using the independent samples (Table 3). For example, the expression level measurement value of the nucleotide sequence represented by SEQ ID NO: 1 was compared between the healthy subjects (100 persons) and the biliary tract cancer patients (67 persons) in the training cohort. As a result, the gene expression level measurement values were found to be significantly lower in the biliary cancer patient group than in the healthy subject group (see the left diagram of FIG. 2 ). These results were also reproducible in the healthy subjects (50 persons) and the biliary tract cancer patients (33 persons) in the validation cohort (see the right diagram of FIG. 2 ). Likewise, the results obtained about the other polynucleotides shown in SEQ ID NOs: 2 to 125 showed that the gene expression level measurement values were significantly lower (−) or higher (+) in the biliary tract cancer patient group than in the healthy subject group (Table 2). These results were able to be validated in the validation cohort. For example, as for this nucleotide sequence represented by SEQ ID NO: 1, the number of correctly identified samples in the detection of biliary tract cancer was calculated using the threshold (5.69) that was set in the training cohort and discriminated between the two groups. As a result, 33 true positives, 49 true negatives, 1 false positive, and 0 false negatives were obtained. From these values, 99% accuracy, 100% sensitivity, and 98% specificity were obtained as the detection performance. In this way, the detection performance was calculated as to all of the polynucleotides shown in SEQ ID NOs: 1 to 125, and described in Table 3.

Among the polynucleotides consisting of the nucleotide sequences represented by SEQ ID NOs: 1 to 125 shown in Table 2, for example, 62 polynucleotides consisting of the nucleotide sequences represented by SEQ ID NOs: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 34, 35, 36, 39, 40, 41, 42, 44, 45, 46, 47, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 60, 62, 64, 65, 67, 68, 70, 74, 75, 76, 83, 84, 105, 107 exhibited sensitivity of 100%, 97%, 97%, 100%, 84.8%, 90.9%, 87.9%, 90.9%, 66.7%, 87.9%, 93.9%, 75.8%, 72.7%, 72.7%, 75.8%, 63.6%, 78.8%, 75.8%, 69.7%, 72.7%, 72.7%, 69.7%, 93.9%, 66.7%, 63.6%, 69.7%, 69.7%, 78.8%, 75.8%, 72.7%, 78.8%, 81.8%, 66.7%, 60.6%, 60.6%, 72.7%, 66.7%, 60.6%, 63.6%, 81.8%, 60.6%, 69.7%, 60.6%, 78.8%, 69.7%, 63.6%, 63.6%, 60.6%, 72.7%, 63.6%, 72.7%, 72.7%, 63.6%, 66.7%, 60.6%, 60.6%, 63.6%, 63.6%, 69.7%, 63.6%, 69.7%, 60.6%, respectively, in the validation cohort (Table 3). As seen from Comparative Example mentioned later, the existing markers CEA and CA19-9 had sensitivity of 33.3% and 59.4%, respectively, in the validation cohort (Table 5), demonstrating that, for example, the 62 polynucleotides consisting of the nucleotide sequences represented by SEQ ID Nos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 34, 35, 36, 39, 40, 41, 42, 44, 45, 46, 47, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 60, 62, 64, 65, 67, 68, 70, 74, 75, 76, 83, 84, 105, 107 can discriminate, each alone, biliary tract cancer in the validation cohort with sensitivity beyond the existing tumor marker CA19-9 in blood.

For example, the 9 polynucleotides consisting of the nucleotide sequences represented by SEQ ID NOs: 1, 2, 3, 4, 10, 11, 12, 23, and 64 were able to correctly discriminate biliary tract cancer for all of the 6 biliary tract cancer samples of stages 0 and 1 (including IA and IB) contained in the validation cohort. Thus, these polynucleotides can detect even early biliary tract cancer and contribute to the early diagnosis of biliary tract cancer.

Furthermore, these polynucleotides were able to correctly discriminate biliary tract cancer for all of the tumors occupying the extrahepatic bile duct, the intrahepatic bile duct, the gallbladder, or the papilla of the biliary tract in the validation cohort. Particularly, the polynucleotides were able to detect cancer of the lower bile duct or the papilla which reportedly has poor prognosis, and cancer in the intrahepatic bile duct which tends to progress asymptomatically.

Example 2

<Method for Evaluating Biliary Tract Cancer Discriminant Performance by Combination of Multiple Gene Markers Using Samples in the Validation Cohort>

In this Example, a method for evaluating biliary tract cancer discriminant performance by a combination of the gene markers selected in Example 1 was studied. Specifically, Fisher's linear discriminant analysis was conducted as to 7,750 combinations of any two of the expression level measurement values of the polynucleotides consisting of the nucleotide sequences represented by SEQ ID NOs: 1 to 125 selected in Example 1, to construct a discriminant for determining the presence or absence of biliary tract cancer. Next, accuracy, sensitivity, and specificity in the validation cohort were calculated using the discriminant thus prepared, and the discriminant performance of the selected polynucleotides was validated using the independent samples. The biliary tract cancer discrimination in the validation cohort was carried out using the 7,750 combinations of the expression level measurement values of the polynucleotides. For example, the expression level measurement values of the polynucleotides consisting of the nucleotide sequences represented by SEQ ID NO: 2 and SEQ ID NO: 4 were compared between the healthy subjects (50 persons) and the biliary tract cancer patients (33 persons) in the validation cohort. As a result, a scatter diagram that significantly separated the expression level measurement values of the biliary tract cancer patient group from those of the healthy subject group was obtained in the training cohort (see the left diagram of FIG. 3 ). These results were also reproducible in the validation cohort (see the right diagram of FIG. 3 ). Likewise, a scatter diagram that significantly separated the expression level measurement values of the biliary tract cancer patient group from those of the healthy subject group was also obtained as to the other combinations of any two of the expression level measurement values of the newly found polynucleotides consisting of the nucleotide sequences represented by SEQ ID NOs: 1 to 125. These results were able to be validated in the validation cohort. For example, as for these nucleotide sequences represented by SEQ ID NO: 2 and SEQ ID NO: 4, the number of samples that were correctly or incorrectly identified as biliary tract cancer was calculated using the function (0=5.16x+y+48.11) that was set in the training cohort and discriminated between the two groups. As a result, 33 true positives, 48 true negatives, 2 false positives, and 0 false negatives were obtained. From these values, 98% accuracy, 100% sensitivity, and 96% specificity were obtained as the detection performance. In this way, the detection performance was calculated for all combinations of any two of the expression level measurement values of the newly found polynucleotides consisting of the nucleotide sequences represented by SEQ ID NOs: 1 to 125. Among them, 124 combinations of the polynucleotide consisting of the nucleotide sequence represented by SEQ ID NO: 1 with polynucleotides consisting of nucleotide sequences represented by the other SEQ ID NOs and their detection performance are described in Table 6 as an example. For example, all of the combinations of the expression level measurement values of the polynucleotides consisting of the nucleotide sequences represented by SEQ ID NOs: 1 and 7, SEQ ID NOs: 1 and 9, SEQ ID NOs: 1 and 25, and SEQ ID NOs: 1 and 66 also exhibited sensitivity of 100% in the validation cohort. In this way, 6,316 combinations of the expression level measurement values of the polynucleotides having sensitivity beyond the existing marker CA19-9 (75.8% in Table 5) were obtained in the validation cohort. All of the nucleotide sequences 1 to 125 described in Table 2 obtained in Example 1 were employed at least once in these combinations. These results demonstrated that the combinations of any two of the expression level measurement values of the polynucleotides consisting of the nucleotide sequences represented by SEQ ID NOs: 1 to 125 can discriminate biliary tract cancer with sensitivity beyond CA19-9 in the validation cohort.

Among the 7,750 combinations of any two of the expression level measurement values of the polynucleotides consisting of the nucleotide sequences represented by SEQ ID NOs: 1 to 125, 1,290 combinations of two of the expression level measurement values were able to correctly discriminate biliary tract cancer for all of the 6 biliary tract cancer samples of stages 0 and 1 (including IA and IB) contained in the validation cohort. The polynucleotides consisting of the nucleotide sequences represented by SEQ ID NOs: 1 to 125 were employed at least once in these 1,290 combinations of two thereof. Thus, these polynucleotides can detect even early biliary tract cancer and contribute to the early diagnosis of biliary tract cancer.

Thus, markers capable of detecting biliary tract cancer with excellent sensitivity are obtained even if 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 or more of the expression level measurement values of the polynucleotides consisting of the nucleotide sequences represented by SEQ ID NOs: 1 to 125 are combined. For example, the polynucleotides consisting of the nucleotide sequences represented by SEQ ID NOs: 1 to 125 selected in Example 1 were ranked in the descending order of their P values which indicate statistical significance, and detection performance was calculated using combinations of one or more miRNAs to which the miRNAs were added one by one from the top to the bottom according to the rank. As a result, the sensitivity in the validation cohort was 100% for 1 miRNA, 100% for 2 miRNAs, 100% for 3 miRNAs, 100% for 5 miRNAs, 100% for 10 miRNAs, 100% for 20 miRNAs, 100% for 50 miRNAs, and 100% for 100 miRNAs. These values of the sensitivity were higher than the sensitivity of the existing tumor marker in blood, demonstrating that even combinations of the multiple miRNAs can serve as excellent markers for the detection of biliary tract cancer. In this context, the combinations of the multiple miRNAs are not limited to the combinations of the miRNAs added in the order of statistically significant difference as described above, and any combination of the multiple miRNAs can be used in the detection of biliary tract cancer.

From these results, it can be concluded that all of the polynucleotides consisting of the nucleotide sequences represented by SEQ ID NOs: 1 to 125 serve as excellent diagnostic markers for biliary tract cancer.

TABLE 2 Expression level in P value after biliary tract cancer Bonferroni patient relative to SEQ ID NO: Gene name correction healthy subject  1 hsa-miR-125a-3p 7.84E−45 −  2 hsa-miR-6893-5p 7.26E−41 −  3 hsa-miR-204-3p 3.07E−40 −  4 hsa-miR-4476 1.71E−29 −  5 hsa-miR-4294 4.27E−29 −  6 hsa-miR-150-3p 7.62E−29 −  7 hsa-miR-6729-5p 3.45E−27 +  8 hsa-miR-7641 3.59E−27 −  9 hsa-miR-6765-3p 1.23E−26 −  10 hsa-miR-6820-5p 1.94E−26 −  11 hsa-miR-575 3.20E−22 −  12 hsa-miR-6836-3p 6.22E−22 +  13 hsa-miR-1469 3.82E−21 +  14 hsa-miR-663a 3.20E−20 +  15 hsa-miR-6075 3.39E−19 +  16 hsa-miR-4634 3.45E−19 +  17 hsa-miR-423-5p 6.05E−19 −  18 hsa-miR-4454 1.09E−18 −  19 hsa-miR-7109-5p 4.48E−17 −  20 hsa-miR-6789-5p 5.28E−17 +  21 hsa-miR-6877-5p 1.97E−16 −  22 hsa-miR-4792 5.75E−16 +  23 hsa-miR-4530 1.17E−15 −  24 hsa-miR-7975 1.25E−15 −  25 hsa-miR-6724-5p 2.90E−15 +  26 hsa-miR-8073 6.32E−15 +  27 hsa-miR-7977 7.95E−15 −  28 hsa-miR-1231 1.10E−14 +  29 hsa-miR-6799-5p 7.45E−14 −  30 hsa-miR-615-5p 1.20E−13 −  31 hsa-miR-4450 1.31E−13 −  32 hsa-miR-6726-5p 6.23E−13 −  33 hsa-miR-6875-5p 9.36E−13 +  34 hsa-miR-4734 1.18E−12 +  35 hsa-miR-16-5p 1.44E−12 −  36 hsa-miR-602 2.13E−12 +  37 hsa-miR-4651 3.44E−12 −  38 hsa-miR-8069 3.87E−12 +  39 hsa-miR-1238-5p 4.47E−12 +  40 hsa-miR-6880-5p 6.68E−12 −  41 hsa-miR-8072 8.97E−12 +  42 hsa-miR-4723-5p 1.09E−11 −  43 hsa-miR-4732-5p 1.18E−11 +  44 hsa-miR-6125 2.42E−11 +  45 hsa-miR-6090 5.45E−11 +  46 hsa-miR-7114-5p 6.03E−11 −  47 hsa-miR-564 7.38E−11 −  48 hsa-miR-451a 1.34E−10 −  49 hsa-miR-3135b 1.77E−10 −  50 hsa-miR-4497 2.01E−10 −  51 hsa-miR-4665-5p 2.05E−10 −  52 hsa-miR-3622a-5p 2.06E−10 −  53 hsa-miR-6850-5p 4.73E−10 +  54 hsa-miR-6821-5p 1.08E−09 −  55 hsa-miR-5100 1.24E−09 −  56 hsa-miR-6872-3p 1.30E−09 −  57 hsa-miR-4433-3p 1.82E−09 +  58 hsa-miR-1227-5p 2.00E−09 +  59 hsa-miR-3188 2.76E−09 +  60 hsa-miR-7704 2.85E−09 −  61 hsa-miR-3185 5.63E−09 +  62 hsa-miR-1908-3p 1.55E−08 +  63 hsa-miR-6781-5p 4.49E−08 +  64 hsa-miR-6805-5p 5.45E−08 +  65 hsa-miR-8089 5.74E−08 −  66 hsa-miR-665 6.09E−08 +  67 hsa-miR-4486 8.43E−08 +  68 hsa-miR-6722-3p 2.27E−07 +  69 hsa-miR-1260a 2.91E−07 −  70 hsa-miR-4707-5p 4.82E−07 +  71 hsa-miR-6741-5p 5.45E−07 −  72 hsa-miR-1260b 6.63E−07 −  73 hsa-miR-1246 8.89E−07 +  74 hsa-miR-6845-5p 1.00E−06 +  75 hsa-miR-4638-5p 1.20E−06 −  76 hsa-miR-6085 1.41E−06 −  77 hsa-miR-1228-3p 1.80E−06 +  78 hsa-miR-4534 3.19E−06 −  79 hsa-miR-5585-3p 3.47E−06 +  80 hsa-miR-4741 6.41E−06 +  81 hsa-miR-4433b-3p 1.18E−05 +  82 hsa-miR-197-5p 1.68E−05 +  83 hsa-miR-718 1.86E−05 +  84 hsa-miR-4513 2.50E−05 −  85 hsa-miR-4446-3p 2.73E−05 +  86 hsa-miR-619-5p 4.93E−05 +  87 hsa-miR-6816-5p 5.01E−05 +  88 hsa-miR-6778-5p 5.27E−05 +  89 hsa-miR-24-3p 7.57E−05 −  90 hsa-miR-1915-3p 8.30E−05 +  91 hsa-miR-4665-3p 8.98E−05 +  92 hsa-miR-4449 1.08E−04 +  93 hsa-miR-6889-5p 1.20E−04 −  94 hsa-miR-486-3p 1.44E−04 +  95 hsa-miR-7113-3p 1.47E−04 +  96 hsa-miR-642a-3p 1.54E−04 −  97 hsa-miR-7847-3p 1.63E−04 −  98 hsa-miR-6768-5p 1.79E−04 −  99 hsa-miR-1290 2.46E−04 + 100 hsa-miR-7108-5p 3.53E−04 + 101 hsa-miR-92b-5p 4.71E−04 + 102 hsa-miR-663b 5.05E−04 + 103 hsa-miR-3940-5p 5.20E−04 + 104 hsa-miR-4467 7.73E−04 + 105 hsa-miR-6858-5p 8.31E−04 + 106 hsa-miR-4417 8.55E−04 + 107 hsa-miR-3665 1.00E−03 + 108 hsa-miR-4736 1.42E−03 + 109 hsa-miR-4687-3p 1.53E−03 − 110 hsa-miR-1908-5p 1.64E−03 + 111 hsa-miR-5195-3p 1.91E−03 − 112 hsa-miR-4286 2.65E−03 − 113 hsa-miR-3679-3p 2.91E−03 + 114 hsa-miR-6791-5p 2.94E−03 + 115 hsa-miR-1202 3.05E−03 − 116 hsa-miR-3656 3.57E−03 + 117 hsa-miR-4746-3p 4.03E−03 + 118 hsa-miR-3184-5p 4.73E−03 + 119 hsa-miR-3937 5.41E−03 + 120 hsa-miR-6515-3p 6.16E−03 + 121 hsa-miR-6132 6.37E−03 − 122 hsa-miR-187-5p 7.26E−03 − 123 hsa-miR-7111-5p 7.97E−03 − 124 hsa-miR-5787 8.07E−03 − 125 hsa-miR-6779-5p 8.44E−03 −

TABLE 3 Training cohort Validation cohort Accuracy Sensitivity Specificity Accuracy Sensitivity Specificity SEQ ID NO: (%) (%) (%) (%) (%) (%) 1 97 94 99 98.8 100 98 2 95.2 91 98 96.4 97 96 3 92.2 83.6 98 92.8 97 90 4 86.2 79.1 91 91.6 100 86 5 88.6 79.1 95 88 84.8 90 6 86.8 80.6 91 81.9 90.9 76 7 86.2 80.6 90 86.7 87.9 86 8 85 82.1 87 89.2 90.9 88 9 88.6 80.6 94 84.3 66.7 96 10 88 79.1 94 86.7 87.9 86 11 88.6 77.6 96 91.6 93.9 90 12 85.6 74.6 93 84.3 75.8 90 13 85.6 71.6 95 83.1 72.7 90 14 82 61.2 96 88 72.7 98 15 83.2 61.2 98 90.4 75.8 100 16 82.6 77.6 86 74.7 63.6 82 17 81.4 67.2 91 79.5 78.8 80 18 81.4 68.7 90 84.3 75.8 90 19 78.4 70.1 84 75.9 69.7 80 20 82 73.1 88 80.7 72.7 86 21 81.4 70.1 89 80.7 72.7 86 22 82 71.6 89 81.9 69.7 90 23 80.2 70.1 87 86.7 93.9 82 24 74.3 56.7 86 81.9 66.7 92 25 78.4 68.7 85 74.7 63.6 82 26 80.2 65.7 90 81.9 69.7 90 27 78.4 61.2 90 81.9 69.7 90 28 82.6 68.7 92 81.9 78.8 84 29 76.6 67.2 83 80.7 75.8 84 30 77.2 71.6 81 77.1 72.7 80 31 79.6 61.2 92 80.7 78.8 82 32 77.2 55.2 92 75.9 54.5 90 33 74.3 61.2 83 72.3 57.6 82 34 75.4 68.7 80 81.9 81.8 82 35 80.8 64.2 92 81.9 66.7 92 36 74.9 64.2 82 74.7 60.6 84 37 77.2 55.2 92 78.3 54.5 94 38 78.4 61.2 90 79.5 57.6 94 39 79 55.2 95 81.9 60.6 96 40 79.6 65.7 89 83.1 72.7 90 41 79.6 65.7 89 73.5 66.7 78 42 77.8 58.2 91 77.1 60.6 88 43 79 58.2 93 74.7 51.5 90 44 76 64.2 84 77.1 63.6 86 45 73.7 70.1 76 74.7 81.8 70 46 73.1 56.7 84 79.5 60.6 92 47 80.8 59.7 95 81.9 69.7 90 48 80.2 59.7 94 78.3 57.6 92 49 80.8 70.1 88 78.3 60.6 90 50 75.4 59.7 86 77.1 78.8 76 51 76.6 61.2 87 77.1 69.7 82 52 76 46.3 96 77.1 63.6 86 53 76 62.7 85 73.5 63.6 80 54 73.7 59.7 83 67.5 60.6 72 55 77.2 56.7 91 77.1 57.6 90 56 73.7 58.2 84 73.5 57.6 84 57 74.9 65.7 81 68.7 51.5 80 58 74.3 53.7 88 77.1 57.6 90 59 79.6 65.7 89 77.1 51.5 94 60 78.4 71.6 83 71.1 72.7 70 61 74.3 56.7 86 73.5 51.5 88 62 75.4 52.2 91 78.3 63.6 88 63 73.7 64.2 80 71.1 57.6 80 64 74.9 59.7 85 79.5 72.7 84 65 76 64.2 84 78.3 72.7 82 66 75.4 53.7 90 79.5 57.6 94 67 70.1 50.7 83 78.3 63.6 88 68 71.9 52.2 85 75.9 66.7 82 69 71.3 52.2 84 74.7 54.5 88 70 73.1 53.7 86 77.1 60.6 88 71 76.6 58.2 89 75.9 57.6 88 72 71.9 46.3 89 77.1 57.6 90 73 75.4 53.7 90 73.5 48.5 90 74 72.5 47.8 89 75.9 60.6 86 75 75.4 52.2 91 78.3 63.6 88 76 73.1 55.2 85 71.1 63.6 76 77 71.9 53.7 84 69.9 54.5 80 78 75.4 55.2 89 71.1 48.5 86 79 73.7 50.7 89 78.3 51.5 96 80 68.9 50.7 81 69.9 51.5 82 81 72.5 58.2 82 62.7 42.4 76 82 70.1 43.3 88 72.3 51.5 86 83 70.7 52.2 83 75.9 69.7 80 84 71.3 46.3 88 74.7 63.6 82 85 70.7 44.8 88 69.9 42.4 88 86 70.1 40.3 90 72.3 36.4 96 87 68.3 49.3 81 65.1 39.4 82 88 70.7 43.3 89 73.5 45.5 92 89 71.9 44.8 90 75.9 39.4 100 90 71.9 53.7 84 71.1 39.4 92 91 72.5 49.3 88 68.7 51.5 80 92 73.1 44.8 92 72.3 42.4 92 93 67.1 47.8 80 71.1 51.5 84 94 71.3 46.3 88 68.7 45.5 84 95 69.5 50.7 82 74.7 48.5 92 96 69.5 44.8 86 69.5 43.8 86 97 71.3 52.2 84 65.1 45.5 78 98 69.5 40.3 89 74.7 57.6 86 99 71.9 49.3 87 73.5 48.5 90 100 71.3 44.8 89 67.5 36.4 88 101 65.3 34.3 86 69.9 33.3 94 102 68.9 43.3 86 70.7 46.9 86 103 70.7 44.8 88 63.9 33.3 84 104 65.9 40.3 83 69.9 45.5 86 105 70.7 47.8 86 79.5 69.7 86 106 72.5 46.3 90 62.7 27.3 86 107 71.9 49.3 87 72.3 60.6 80 108 74.3 46.3 93 73.5 45.5 92 109 66.5 40.3 84 67.5 36.4 88 110 65.3 41.8 81 68.7 36.4 90 ill 69.5 49.3 83 74.7 54.5 88 112 70.1 43.3 88 68.7 42.4 86 113 68.7 43.9 85 66.3 48.5 78 114 74.3 52.2 89 72.3 45.5 90 115 67.7 44.8 83 68.7 42.4 86 116 68.3 37.3 89 67.5 33.3 90 117 70.1 46.3 86 68.7 36.4 90 118 64.7 38.8 82 66.3 39.4 84 119 69.5 40.3 89 63.9 24.2 90 120 68.3 46.3 83 61.4 39.4 76 121 72.5 43.3 92 78.3 54.5 94 122 61.7 37.3 78 67.5 36.4 88 123 69.5 38.8 90 74.7 51.5 90 124 63.5 29.9 86 67.5 33.3 90 125 65.3 38.8 83 68.7 39.4 88

TABLE 4 Discriminant Constant SEQ ID NO: coefficient Term  1 1.490 8.485  2 2.192 17.571  3 1.628 20.108  4 1.724 11.587  5 2.263 22.296  6 2.463 15.985  7 8.833 111.338  8 1.386 9.644  9 1.528 12.721  10 3.092 21.901  11 1.550 8.821  12 3.319 29.422  13 3.849 39.694  14 3.265 33.699  15 2.090 18.362  16 5.589 55.229  17 2.126 15.004  18 1.892 21.549  19 5.212 38.369  20 4.357 43.428  21 3.893 27.592  22 1.938 13.174  23 2.212 20.328  24 1.832 17.827  25 4.296 42.971  26 2.836 18.443  27 1.791 17.167  28 3.102 20.737  29 4.166 33.600  30 2.570 16.779  31 1.408 7.919  32 2.548 24.931  33 3.348 30.220  34 5.146 61.548  35 1.007 5.891  36 3.423 22.158  37 4.459 48.437  38 5.239 67.494  39 2.724 18.139  40 2.096 14.981  41 5.185 64.019  42 2.496 21.820  43 1.601 10.850  44 5.154 61.778  45 7.100 92.650  46 4.122 28.093  47 1.389 8.063  48 0.844 7.028  49 2.714 21.126  50 2.184 27.536  51 2.782 26.220  52 2.507 14.755  53 5.248 59.794  54 4.258 36.410  55 2.093 21.342  56 2.375 14.357  57 3.716 27.368  58 6.005 57.298  59 3.141 19.304  60 6.949 95.964  61 2.207 15.598  62 2.528 17.814  63 5.205 54.268  64 5.578 63.641  65 3.305 21.681  66 2.302 16.671  67 2.960 21.294  68 5.934 50.718  69 2.315 15.993  70 3.992 29.367  71 3.564 24.617  72 2.022 17.112  73 1.347 11.081  74 3.284 31.457  75 1.545 9.348  76 4.433 46.093  77 4.257 27.033  78 2.935 19.713  79 1.452 8.384  80 3.495 34.503  81 3.632 29.142  82 3.294 23.460  83 3.861 26.420  84 3.328 20.006  85 2.105 16.080  86 1.341 10.397  87 4.228 42.421  88 2.047 16.460  89 1.719 10.767  90 4.014 44.217  91 4.300 25.371  92 2.984 19.534  93 2.882 20.272  94 2.143 17.783  95 2.782 16.404  96 2.452 18.600  97 3.952 25.528  98 3.062 28.862  99 1.303 7.532 100 4.019 36.628 101 2.486 19.866 102 2.977 26.894 103 4.826 59.068 104 2.101 20.436 105 4.536 33.697 106 4.937 40.293 107 6.731 92.497 108 2.367 14.257 109 3.432 32.608 110 4.107 47.065 111 3.209 22.271 112 2.121 15.790 113 3.358 20.358 114 3.889 35.598 115 3.145 20.800 116 4.368 50.242 117 2.562 16.673 118 2.261 17.941 119 3.886 33.439 120 4.225 28.465 121 3.315 25.324 122 2.292 23.043 123 4.989 37.060 124 4.447 57.475 125 5.665 40.490

TABLE 5-1 Training cohort Sample name Cancer stage CEA(ng/mL) CA19-9(U/mL) B01 IB   2   18.2 B05 IB   2.6   24.7 B06 II   2.6   88.7(+) B07 IIA   1.5   41.8(+) B09 IVb  20.3(+)  271.6(+) B10 IVb   3.4  3170(+) B11 IVb  51.7(+)   32.1 B12 IVb   2.1  5420(+) B13 III   5   92.5(+) B14 III  48.9(+)  1900(+) B17 IB   0.9   16.4 B18 IIB 4916(+)   1.5 B19 IIIB   1.8   80.1(+) B21 II   0.7   8.3 B25 III  30.3(+)  1364(+) B26 IVb  10.4(+)  2226(+) B27 IVb  39.8(+)  3490(+) B29 III   1.7   8.2 B33 IVb   5  200.6(+) B35 IVb  14.6(+)   0.1 B39 IIB   0.8   51.7(6) B40 III   2.7   36.4 B43 IVa   4.4   85.3(+) B44 IIB   6.3(4)   67.6(+) B45 II   2.2   59.2(+) B48 IB   3.2   33.4 B49 IA   4.3  289(+) B50 IVb   0.8 B51 II   6.3(4)   16 B52 IIB   3.6  214.9(+) B54 II   1   98.3(+) B55 II   1.7   36.8 B56 II   1.6   6.8 B57 II   6.8(+)  4538(+) B58 IB   1.8   63.9(+) B59 IB  10.6(4)   46.4(+) B61 IIA   0.9   9.5 B62 IB   2.3   11.2 B63 IIB   7.2(+)  385.2(+) B64 IIA   1.9   48.3(+) B67 IB   1.6   66.2(+) B69 III  26.2(+)   76.5(+) B73 III   3.7  156.6(4) B74 IVb   4.1 14820(+) B75 IVb  306.7(+)  2098(+) B77 IVb   1.2   74.2(+) B78 IVb   2.3   5.3 B81 III   4.9  240.8(+) B82 III   7.9(+)  1275(+) B83 IVb   1.6  1641(+) B85 IVb  29.7(+) 11130(+) B86 III   3.5   23.8 B89 IVb   5.2(+)  1920(+) B90 III   1.6  125.7(+) B91 IVb   3.2  1175(+) B92 IIIB   4.9 19750(+) B93 IVb None B94 III   2.6  2670(+) B95 IVb 2030(+)   23.8 B96 IVb  15.2(+) 68120(+) B97 IVb  19.5(+)   2.6 B98 IVb   2.3  4308(+) B99 IVb   1.3   35.2 B100 IVb   2.4   47(+) B101 III   3.5   40.3(+) B102 IVb   0.2  3304(+) B103 III   2.2  2434(+) Sensitivity (%)  31.3   68.2

TABLE 5-2 Validation cohort Sample name Cancer stage CEA(ng/mL) CA19-9(U/mL) B02 IB   3.1  17.1 B03 IIB   3.9  12.9 B04 IIA   2.3  15.8 B08 0   2.7  19.8 B15 IVb  13  328.4 B16 II   1.1   9.6 B20 IIB   2.3  189.8 B22 I   7.8  49.2 B23 III   0.8   8.2 B24 IV  11.6 B28 III   2.4  64.9 B30 IVb  194.7 4597 B31 IVb   3.4  483.3 B32 IIB   2.7  35.2 B34 III   1.6  123.5 B36 IVb   2.7 3374 B37 III   5.5  145.1 B41 IB   2  27.8 B42 IIA   7  37.8 B46 IA   2.1  38.8 B53 I   2.5   6.4 B60 IIA   2.5  105.5 B65 IIA   1.7  11.9 B66 IIA   4.6  11.1 B68 IIB   1.1   7.2 B70 II   1.6  123.5 B71 IVa   6.5  925 B76 IVb 1482  15.6 B79 IVb  65 6510 B80 IVb   5  229.9 B84 III   3.1  52.5 B88 IVb  76.9  777 P91 IVb   2.3 4308 Sensitivity (%)  33.3  59.4

In Table 5, 5 ng/ml or lower of CEA was indicated as “−”, and 37 U/ml or lower of CA19-9 was indicated as “−”, while values exceeding these were “+”.

TABLE 6 Training cohort Validation cohort Accuracy Sensitivity Specificity Accuracy Sensitivity Specificity SEQ ID NO: (%) (%) (%) (%) (%) (%) 1_2 97 94 99 100 100 100 1_3 95.8 91 99 100 100 100 1_4 95.8 92.5 98 97.6 100 96 1_5 97.6 95.5 99 98.8 100 98 1_6 96.4 92.5 99 96.4 100 94 1_7 98.8 98.5 99 100 100 100 1_8 98.2 95.5 100 98.8 100 98 1_9 98.8 97 100 100 100 100 1_10 95.8 94 97 97.6 100 96 1_11 97 94 99 98.8 100 98 1_12 96.4 92.5 99 98.8 97 100 1_13 97 94 99 100 100 100 1_14 97 95.5 98 100 100 100 1_15 96.4 92.5 99 98.8 97 100 1_16 97.6 95.5 99 96.4 97 96 1_17 97.6 95.5 99 98.8 100 98 1_18 96.4 92.5 99 98.8 97 100 1_19 98.2 95.5 100 98.8 100 98 1_20 97.6 95.5 99 98.8 100 98 1_21 97.6 95.5 99 98.8 100 98 1_22 98.8 97 100 98.8 97 100 1_23 95.8 91 99 98.8 100 98 1_24 96.4 92.5 99 98.8 97 100 1_25 98.8 97 100 100 100 100 1_26 96.4 92.5 99 96.4 97 96 1_27 95.8 92.5 98 98.8 97 100 1_28 97.6 97 98 100 100 100 1_29 95.8 92.5 98 97.6 97 98 1_30 97 92.5 100 100 100 100 1_31 96.4 92.5 99 97.6 97 98 1_32 97.6 95.5 99 98.8 100 98 1_33 96.4 94 98 100 100 100 1_34 96.4 92.5 99 100 100 100 1_35 96.4 91 100 98.8 100 98 1_36 97 95.5 98 100 100 100 1_37 97 94 99 100 100 100 1_38 97 94 99 98.8 100 98 1_39 96.4 92.5 99 97.6 97 98 1_40 97 95.5 98 100 100 100 1_41 96.4 94 98 98.8 97 100 1_42 97.6 94 100 100 100 100 1_43 95.8 92.5 98 97.6 100 96 1_44 97 94 99 98.8 100 98 1_45 97.6 95.5 99 96.4 100 94 1_46 97 94 99 100 100 100 1_47 97 94 99 97.6 100 96 1_48 95.8 91 99 100 100 100 1_49 98.2 95.5 100 100 100 100 1_50 97 94 99 98.8 100 98 1_51 97 94 99 98.8 100 98 1_52 97 94 99 98.8 100 98 1_53 96.4 94 98 98.8 97 100 1_54 97 94 99 98.8 100 98 1_55 96.4 94 98 97.6 97 98 1_56 95.8 94 97 98.8 97 100 1_57 95.8 92.5 98 100 100 100 1_58 96.4 92.5 99 100 100 100 1_59 95.2 91 98 98.8 100 98 1_60 96.4 94 98 97.6 100 96 1_61 98.2 97 99 100 100 100 1_62 97.6 95.5 99 98.8 100 98 1_63 95.2 89.6 99 97.6 97 98 1_64 94.6 89.6 98 98.8 100 98 1_65 97 94 99 96.4 97 96 1_66 95.8 92.5 98 98.8 97 100 1_67 97 94 99 100 100 100 1_68 97.6 95.5 99 97.6 100 96 1_69 95.8 92.5 98 97.6 97 98 1_70 95.8 94 97 98.8 100 98 1_71 98.2 97 99 98.8 100 98 1_72 95.8 92.5 98 98.8 97 100 1_73 97 94 99 100 100 100 1_74 96.4 94 98 98.8 100 98 1_75 96.4 94 98 97.6 100 96 1_76 96.4 92.5 99 97.6 97 98 1_77 97 95.5 98 97.6 97 98 1_78 96.4 92.5 99 98.8 97 100 1_79 95.8 91 99 98.8 97 100 1_80 95.8 91 99 100 100 100 1_81 95.8 92.5 98 98.8 100 98 1_82 97 95.5 98 100 100 100 1_83 97.6 95.5 99 96.4 97 96 1_84 97 94 99 98.8 100 98 1_85 97 94 99 98.8 100 98 1_86 95.2 91 98 98.8 97 100 1_87 95.8 92.5 98 100 100 100 1_88 95.8 92.5 98 98.8 97 100 1_89 96.4 94 98 98.8 100 98 1_90 96.4 92.5 99 98.8 100 98 1_91 95.8 94 97 97.6 97 98 1_92 97.6 95.5 99 98.8 100 98 1_93 96.4 94 98 98.8 100 98 1_94 97 94 99 98.8 100 98 1_95 95.8 92.5 98 98.8 97 100 1_96 97.6 94 100 100 100 100 1_97 95.8 91 99 97.6 93.9 100 1_98 97 94 99 98.8 100 98 1_99 95.8 92.5 98 100 100 100 1_100 97 94 99 98.8 100 98 1_101 97.6 95.5 99 100 100 100 1_102 97 94 99 100 100 100 1_103 96.4 94 98 100 100 100 1_104 97.6 97 98 98.8 100 98 1_105 97 94 99 98.8 100 98 1_106 97 94 99 100 100 100 1_107 97 94 99 98.8 100 98 1_108 97 94 99 98.8 100 98 1_109 97.6 95.5 99 100 100 100 1_110 96.4 91 100 98.8 97 100 1_111 95.2 89.6 99 98.8 97 100 1_112 96.4 94 98 97.6 97 98 1_113 97 93.9 99 100 100 100 1_114 97 94 99 100 100 100 1_115 97 94 99 98.8 100 98 1_116 97.6 95.5 99 100 100 100 1_117 97.6 94 100 98.8 100 98 1_118 95.8 92.5 98 98.8 100 98 1_119 97 95.5 98 100 100 100 1_120 97 94 99 100 100 100 1_121 97 94 99 98.8 100 98 1_122 97 92.5 100 100 100 100 1_123 97 95.5 98 97.6 100 96 1_124 98.2 97 99 100 100 100 1_125 95.8 91 99 97.6 97 98

Example 3

<Selection of Gene Marker Using all Samples and Method for Evaluating Biliary Tract Cancer Discriminant Performance of Acquired Gene Marker>

In this Example, the samples of the training cohort and the validation cohort used in Examples 1 and Example 2 were integrated, and selection of a gene marker and evaluation of its biliary tract cancer discriminant performance were conducted using all of the samples.

Specifically, the miRNA expression levels in the serum of the 100 biliary tract cancer patients and the 150 healthy subjects obtained in Reference Example 1 above were normalized by quantile normalization. In order to acquire diagnostic markers with higher reliability, only genes having a gene expression level of 2⁶ or higher in 50% or more of the samples in either of the biliary tract cancer patient group or the healthy subject group were selected in the gene marker selection. In order to further acquire statistical significance for discriminating a biliary tract cancer patient group from a healthy subject group, the P value obtained by two-tailed t-test assuming equal variance as to each gene expression level was corrected by the Bonferroni method, and genes that satisfied p<0.01 were selected as gene markers for use in explanatory variables of a discriminant. The obtained genes are described in Table 7. In this way, hsa-miR-6808-5p, hsa-miR-6774-5p, hsa-miR-4656, hsa-miR-6806-5p, hsa-miR-1233-5p, hsa-miR-328-5p, hsa-miR-4674, hsa-miR-2110, hsa-miR-6076, hsa-miR-3619-3p, hsa-miR-92a-2-5p, hsa-miR-128-1-5p, hsa-miR-638, hsa-miR-2861, hsa-miR-371a-5p, hsa-miR-211-3p, hsa-miR-1273g-3p, hsa-miR-1203, hsa-miR-122-5p, hsa-miR-4258, hsa-miR-4484, hsa-miR-4648 and hsa-miR-6780b-5p genes represented by SEQ ID NOs: 126 to 148 were found as biliary tract cancer markers relative to the healthy subjects, in addition to the genes described in Table 2. As with the polynucleotides shown in SEQ ID NOs: 1 to 125, the results obtained about the polynucleotides shown in SEQ ID NOs: 126 to 148 also showed that the expression level measurement values were significantly lower (−) or higher (+) in the biliary tract cancer patient group than in the healthy subject group (Table 7). These results were able to be validated in the validation cohort. The presence or absence of biliary tract cancer in the newly obtained samples can be determined by the methods described in Examples 1 and 2 by using the gene expression level measurement values described in Table 7 either alone or in combination with the gene expression level measurement values described in Table 2.

TABLE 7 Expression level in P value after biliary tract cancer Bonferroni patient relative to SEQ ID NO: Gene name correction healthy subject  1 hsa-miR-125a-3p 4.28E−69 −  2 hsa-miR-6893-5p 1.09E−65 −  3 hsa-miR-204-3p 6.70E−61 −  4 hsa-miR-4476 7.27E−46 −  5 hsa-miR-4294 1.68E−46 −  6 hsa-miR-150-3p 1.80E−39 −  7 hsa-miR-6729-5p 5.38E−43 +  8 hsa-miR-7641 3.05E−42 −  9 hsa-miR-6765-3p 2.49E−39 −  10 hsa-miR-6820-5p 5.67E−39 −  11 hsa-miR-575 8.34E−40 −  12 hsa-miR-6836-3p 5.59E−31 +  13 hsa-miR-1469 9.68E−31 +  14 hsa-miR-663a 5.12E−34 +  15 hsa-miR-6075 1.26E−32 +  16 hsa-miR-4634 1.02E−21 +  17 hsa-miR-423-5p 1.35E−29 −  18 hsa-miR-4454 1.49E−28 −  19 hsa-miR-7109-5p 4.86E−24 −  20 hsa-miR-6789-5p 1.58E−25 +  21 hsa-miR-6877-5p 2.13E−27 −  22 hsa-miR-4792 2.19E−22 +  23 hsa-miR-4530 5.55E−28 −  24 hsa-miR-7975 1.41E−23 −  25 hsa-miR-6724-5p 6.21E−22 +  26 hsa-miR-8073 6.99E−22 +  27 hsa-miR-7977 1.59E−24 −  28 hsa-miR-1231 9.43E−24 +  29 hsa-miR-6799-5p 1.15E−19 −  30 hsa-miR-615-5p 4.36E−22 −  31 hsa-miR-4450 3.74E−25 −  32 hsa-miR-6726-5p 8.86E−19 −  33 hsa-miR-6875-5p 8.34E−18 +  34 hsa-miR-4734 1.61E−21 +  35 hsa-miR-16-5p 5.06E−19 −  36 hsa-miR-602 6.21E−19 +  37 hsa-miR-4651 8.62E−19 −  38 hsa-miR-8069 3.51E−17 +  39 hsa-miR-1238-5p 1.46E−20 +  40 hsa-miR-6880-5p 3.97E−20 −  41 hsa-miR-8072 4.77E−19 +  42 hsa-miR-4723-5p 8.13E−18 −  43 hsa-miR-4732-5p 3.25E−17 +  44 hsa-miR-6125 1.01E−16 +  45 hsa-miR-6090 1.38E−17 +  46 hsa-miR-7114-5p 1.97E−15 −  47 hsa-miR-564 3.73E−21 −  48 hsa-miR-451a 4.72E−16 −  49 hsa-miR-3135b 1.59E−11 −  50 hsa-miR-4497 2.02E−19 −  51 hsa-miR-4665-5p 4.12E−17 −  52 hsa-miR-3622a-5p 1.48E−18 −  53 hsa-miR-6850-5p 3.84E−15 +  54 hsa-miR-6821-5p 2.55E−13 −  55 hsa-miR-5100 1.10E−14 −  56 hsa-miR-6872-3p 5.30E−16 −  57 hsa-miR-4433-3p 2.69E−12 +  58 hsa-miR-1227-5p 3.37E−17 +  59 hsa-miR-3188 2.17E−14 +  60 hsa-miR-7704 1.24E−13 −  61 hsa-miR-3185 1.95E−12 +  62 hsa-miR-1908-3p 2.94E−15 +  63 hsa-miR-6781-5p 4.29E−12 +  64 hsa-miR-6805-5p 1.17E−15 +  65 hsa-miR-8089 1.47E−13 −  66 hsa-miR-665 8.11E−15 +  67 hsa-miR-4486 3.16E−13 +  68 hsa-miR-6722-3p 1.65E−13 +  69 hsa-miR-1260a 2.60E−11 −  70 hsa-miR-4707-5p 2.00E−10 +  71 hsa-miR-6741-5p 6.59E−09 −  72 hsa-miR-1260b 5.25E−12 −  73 hsa-miR-1246 1.34E−11 +  74 hsa-miR-6845-5p 1.26E−11 +  75 hsa-miR-4638-5p 3.28E−13 −  76 hsa-miR-6085 5.78E−10 −  77 hsa-miR-1228-3p 3.27E−06 +  78 hsa-miR-4534 3.91E−08 −  79 hsa-miR-5585-3p 6.28E−11 +  80 hsa-miR-4741 3.46E−08 +  81 hsa-miR-4433b-3p 1.39E−05 +  82 hsa-miR-197-5p 8.04E−09 +  83 hsa-miR-718 3.74E−08 +  84 hsa-miR-4513 1.21E−10 −  85 hsa-miR-4446-3p 1.77E−08 +  86 hsa-miR-619-5p 1.39E−08 +  87 hsa-miR-6816-5p 1.57E−06 +  88 hsa-miR-6778-5p 4.15E−09 +  89 hsa-miR-24-3p 7.20E−08 −  90 hsa-miR-1915-3p 7.39E−09 +  91 hsa-miR-4665-3p 2.19E−07 +  92 hsa-miR-4449 1.44E−08 +  93 hsa-miR-6889-5p 4.03E−09 −  94 hsa-miR-486-3p 3.07E−07 +  95 hsa-miR-7113-3p 7.17E−05 +  96 hsa-miR-642a-3p 2.16E−05 −  97 hsa-miR-7847-3p 1.01E−03 −  98 hsa-miR-6768-5p 5.36E−06 −  99 hsa-miR-1290 1.38E−07 + 100 hsa-miR-7108-5p 1.70E−05 + 101 hsa-miR-92b-5p 5.47E−05 + 102 hsa-miR-663b 1.10E−05 + 103 hsa-miR-3940-5p 9.32E−06 + 104 hsa-miR-4467 9.80E−07 + 105 hsa-miR-6858-5p 6.11E−08 + 106 hsa-miR-4417 2.44E−04 + 107 hsa-miR-3665 4.03E−06 + 108 hsa-miR-4736 1.16E−05 + 109 hsa-miR-4687-3p 2.65E−07 − 110 hsa-miR-1908-5p 1.15E−04 + 111 hsa-miR-5195-3p 7.52E−06 − 112 hsa-miR-4286 8.49E−06 − 113 hsa-miR-3679-3p 6.22E−04 + 114 hsa-miR-6791-5p 2.88E−05 + 115 hsa-miR-1202 7.99E−06 − 116 hsa-miR-3656 1.87E−06 + 117 hsa-miR-4746-3p 3.71E−05 + 118 hsa-miR-3184-5p 2.22E−05 + 119 hsa-miR-3937 5.36E−03 + 120 hsa-miR-6515-3p 7.18E−02 + 121 hsa-miR-6132 3.43E−04 − 122 hsa-miR-187-5p 1.16E−06 − 123 hsa-miR-7111-5p 5.89E−05 − 124 hsa-miR-5787 1.91E−04 − 125 hsa-miR-6779-5p 1.86E−03 − 126 hsa-miR-6808-5p 2.64E−06 + 127 hsa-miR-6774-5p 2.50E−05 + 128 hsa-miR-4656 7.70E−05 + 129 hsa-miR-6806-5p 1.02E−04 + 130 hsa-miR-1233-5p 1.23E−04 + 131 hsa-miR-328-5p 1.31E−04 − 132 hsa-miR-4674 2.45E−04 + 133 hsa-miR-2110 5.98E−04 − 134 hsa-miR-6076 6.44E−04 − 135 hsa-miR-3619-3p 9.16E−04 + 136 hsa-miR-92a-2-5p 9.76E−04 − 137 hsa-miR-128-1-5p 1.22E−03 + 138 hsa-miR-638 1.54E−03 + 139 hsa-miR-2861 1.95E−03 − 140 hsa-miR-371a-5p 3.24E−03 − 141 hsa-miR-211-3p 3.44E−03 + 142 hsa-miR-1273g-3p 4.10E−03 + 143 hsa-miR-1203 5.55E−03 − 144 hsa-miR-122-5p 5.81E−03 + 145 hsa-miR-4258 5.82E−03 + 146 hsa-miR-4484 7.10E−03 + 147 hsa-miR-4648 8.55E−03 + 148 hsa-miR-6780b-5p 9.46E−03 +

Example 4

<Method for Evaluating Biliary Tract Cancer-Specific Discriminant Performance by Combination of Multiple Gene Markers Using Samples in the Validation Cohort>

In this Example, additional gene markers for diagnosis were selected by comparing gene expression levels of miRNAs in sera of biliary tract cancer patients with those of a control group consisting of healthy subjects, colorectal cancer patients, stomach cancer patients, esophageal cancer patients, liver cancer patients, and benign pancreaticobiliary disease patients, in the same way as the method described in Example 1, and targeting the training cohort as the sample group described in Reference Example 2. One or two or more markers selected from the group consisting of the additional gene markers for diagnosis (SEQ ID NOs: 466 to 478; see Table 1) thus selected and the gene markers selected in Example 1 in combination were used to evaluate biliary tract cancer-specific discriminant performance.

Specifically, first, the miRNA expression levels in the training cohort and the validation cohort obtained in Reference Example 2 mentioned above were combined and normalized by quantile normalization. Next, Fisher's discriminant analysis was conducted to construct a discriminant for determining the presence or absence of biliary tract cancer, by using combinations of 1 to 4 expression level measurement values comprising at least one or more of the expression level measurement values of the polynucleotides consisting of the nucleotide sequences represented by SEQ ID NOs: 1 to 148, 466 to 478. Next, accuracy, sensitivity, and specificity in the validation cohort were calculated using the discriminant thus prepared, with a positive sample group that consists of the biliary tract cancer patient group, and a negative sample group that consists of the healthy subject group, the colorectal cancer patient group, the stomach cancer patient group, the esophageal cancer patient group, the liver cancer patient group, and the benign pancreaticobiliary disease patient group. The discriminant performance of the selected polynucleotides was validated using the independent samples.

Most of polynucleotides consisting of the nucleotide sequences represented by these SEQ ID NOs (SEQ ID NOs: 1 to 148, and 466 to 478 corresponding to the miRNA markers of Table 1) or complementary sequences thereof mentioned above were able to provide relatively high accuracy, sensitivity, and specificity in the determination of the presence or absence of biliary tract cancer, and furthermore, were able to specifically discriminate biliary tract cancer from the other cancers. For example, among the combinations of multiple polynucleotides selected from the group consisting of polynucleotides consisting of the nucleotide sequences represented by SEQ ID NOs: 1, 4, 5, 11, 12, 15, 23, 29, 39, 40, 54, 76, 79, 91, 103, 115, 121, 134, 143, 466, 469, 472, 473, and 474 or complementary sequences thereof (the cancer type-specific polynucleotide group 1) listed as polynucleotides capable of specifically binding to target markers, combinations comprising at least one polynucleotide selected from the group consisting of polynucleotides consisting of the nucleotide sequences represented by SEQ ID NOs: 4, 5, 12, 15, and 40 or complementary sequences thereof (the cancer type-specific polynucleotide group 2) were able to specifically discriminate biliary tract cancer from the other cancers with high accuracy.

The number of the polynucleotides with cancer type specificity in the combination mentioned above can be 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 or more for the combination. The combinations of 4 or more polynucleotides were able to exhibit discrimination accuracy of 80% or higher.

Specifically, the discrimination accuracy of the measurement using the polynucleotide consisting of the nucleotide sequence represented by SEQ ID NO: 4 or a complementary sequence thereof is given below. The measurement using alone (one) the polynucleotide consisting of the nucleotide sequence represented by SEQ ID NO: 4 or a complementary sequence thereof exhibited accuracy of 81.9% in the training cohort and accuracy of 76.9% in the validation cohort (Table 8). Also, for example, the measurement using the combinations of two polynucleotides comprising at least one polynucleotide consisting of the nucleotide sequence represented by SEQ ID NO: 4 or a complementary sequence thereof exhibited the highest accuracy of 86.0% in the training cohort and accuracy of 85.3% in the validation cohort (Table 9; “SEQ ID NO” in the table represents the combinations of SEQ ID NOs of the two polynucleotides used). Furthermore, for example, the measurement using the combinations of three polynucleotides comprising at least one polynucleotide consisting of the nucleotide sequence represented by SEQ ID NO: 4 or a complementary sequence thereof exhibited the highest accuracy of 89.5% in the training cohort and accuracy of 90.4% in the validation cohort (Table 10; “SEQ ID NO” in the table represents the combinations of SEQ ID NOs of the three polynucleotides used). Furthermore, for example, the measurement using the combinations of four polynucleotides comprising at least one polynucleotide consisting of the nucleotide sequence represented by SEQ ID NO: 4 or a complementary sequence thereof exhibited the highest accuracy of 91.1% in the training cohort and accuracy of 92.3% in the validation cohort (Table 11; “SEQ ID NO” in the table represents the combinations of SEQ ID NOs of the four polynucleotides used).

Specifically, the discrimination accuracy of the measurement using the polynucleotide consisting of the nucleotide sequence represented by SEQ ID NO: 5 or a complementary sequence thereof is given below. The measurement using alone (one) the polynucleotide consisting of the nucleotide sequence represented by SEQ ID NO: 5 or a complementary sequence thereof exhibited accuracy of 79.0% in the training cohort and accuracy of 80.8% in the validation cohort (Table 8). Also, for example, the measurement using the combinations of two polynucleotides comprising at least one polynucleotide consisting of the nucleotide sequence represented by SEQ ID NO: 5 or a complementary sequence thereof exhibited the highest accuracy of 81.9% in the training cohort and accuracy of 86.5% in the validation cohort (Table 9). Furthermore, for example, the measurement using the combinations of three polynucleotides comprising at least one polynucleotide consisting of the nucleotide sequence represented by SEQ ID NO: 5 or a complementary sequence thereof exhibited the highest accuracy of 87.6% in the training cohort and accuracy of 89.7% in the validation cohort (Table 10). Furthermore, for example, the measurement using the combinations of four polynucleotides comprising at least one polynucleotide consisting of the nucleotide sequence represented by SEQ ID NO: 5 or a complementary sequence thereof exhibited the highest accuracy of 93.0% in the training cohort and accuracy of 91.0% in the validation cohort (Table 11).

Specifically, the discrimination accuracy of the measurement using the polynucleotide consisting of the nucleotide sequence represented by SEQ ID NO: 12 or a complementary sequence thereof is given below. The measurement using alone (one) the polynucleotide consisting of the nucleotide sequence represented by SEQ ID NO: 12 or a complementary sequence thereof exhibited accuracy of 80.6% in the training cohort and accuracy of 76.9% in the validation cohort (Table 8). Also, for example, the measurement using the combinations of two polynucleotides comprising at least one polynucleotide consisting of the nucleotide sequence represented by SEQ ID NO: 12 or a complementary sequence thereof exhibited the highest accuracy of 86.3% in the training cohort and accuracy of 85.9% in the validation cohort (Table 9). Furthermore, for example, the measurement using the combinations of three polynucleotides comprising at least one polynucleotide consisting of the nucleotide sequence represented by SEQ ID NO: 12 or a complementary sequence thereof exhibited the highest accuracy of 90.2% in the training cohort and accuracy of 91.7% in the validation cohort (Table 10). Furthermore, for example, the measurement using the combinations of four polynucleotides comprising at least one polynucleotide consisting of the nucleotide sequence represented by SEQ ID NO: 12 or a complementary sequence thereof exhibited the highest accuracy of 93.0% in the training cohort and accuracy of 94.2% in the validation cohort (Table 11).

Specifically, the discrimination accuracy of the measurement using the polynucleotide consisting of the nucleotide sequence represented by SEQ ID NO: 15 or a complementary sequence thereof is given below. The measurement using alone (one) the polynucleotide consisting of the nucleotide sequence represented by SEQ ID NO: 15 or a complementary sequence thereof exhibited accuracy of 83.8% in the training cohort and accuracy of 84.0% in the validation cohort (Table 8). Also, for example, the measurement using the combinations of two polynucleotides comprising at least one polynucleotide consisting of the nucleotide sequence represented by SEQ ID NO: 15 or a complementary sequence thereof exhibited the highest accuracy of 89.5% in the training cohort and accuracy of 89.1% in the validation cohort (Table 9). Furthermore, for example, the measurement using the combinations of three polynucleotides comprising at least one polynucleotide consisting of the nucleotide sequence represented by SEQ ID NO: 15 or a complementary sequence thereof exhibited the highest accuracy of 90.5% in the training cohort and accuracy of 92.3% in the validation cohort (Table 10). Furthermore, for example, the measurement using the combinations of four polynucleotides comprising at least one polynucleotide consisting of the nucleotide sequence represented by SEQ ID NO: 15 or a complementary sequence thereof exhibited the highest accuracy of 93.0% in the training cohort and accuracy of 94.2% in the validation cohort (Table 11).

Specifically, the discrimination accuracy of the measurement using the polynucleotide consisting of the nucleotide sequence represented by SEQ ID NO: 40 or a complementary sequence thereof is given below. The measurement using alone (one) the polynucleotide consisting of the nucleotide sequence represented by SEQ ID NO: 40 or a complementary sequence thereof exhibited accuracy of 80.0% in the training cohort and accuracy of 76.9% in the validation cohort (Table 8). Also, for example, the measurement using the combinations of two polynucleotides comprising at least one polynucleotide consisting of the nucleotide sequence represented by SEQ ID NO: 40 or a complementary sequence thereof exhibited the highest accuracy of 81.9% in the training cohort and accuracy of 86.5% in the validation cohort (Table 9). Furthermore, for example, the measurement using the combinations of three polynucleotides comprising at least one polynucleotide consisting of the nucleotide sequence represented by SEQ ID NO: 40 or a complementary sequence thereof exhibited the highest accuracy of 86.7% in the training cohort and accuracy of 89.7% in the validation cohort (Table 10). Furthermore, for example, the measurement using the combinations of four polynucleotides comprising at least one polynucleotide consisting of the nucleotide sequence represented by SEQ ID NO: 40 or a complementary sequence thereof exhibited the highest accuracy of 91.4% in the training cohort and accuracy of 91.7% in the validation cohort (Table 11).

The expression level measurement values of the nucleotide sequences represented by SEQ ID NOs: 15, 5, 4, 12, 40 were compared among 67 biliary tract cancer patients, 93 healthy subjects, 35 colorectal cancer patients, 37 stomach cancer patients, 32 esophageal cancer patients, 38 liver cancer patients, and 13 benign pancreaticobiliary disease patients in the training cohort. As a result, a scatter diagram that significantly separated the discriminant score of the biliary tract cancer patient group from the other discriminant scores was obtained in the training cohort (see the upper diagram of FIG. 4 ). These results were also reproducible in the validation cohort (see the lower diagram of FIG. 4 ).

TABLE 8 Training cohort Validation cohort Accuracy Sensitivity Specificity Accuracy Sensitivity Specificity SEQ ID NO: (%) (%) (%) (%) (%) (%) 4 81.9 82.3 80.6 76.9 78.9 69.7 5 79 79 79.1 80.8 80.5 81.8 11 77.1 76.6 79.1 74.4 73.2 78.8 12 80.6 80.2 82.1 76.9 77.2 75.8 15 83.8 88.7 65.7 84 88.6 66.7 23 76.8 75.8 80.6 70.5 66.7 84.8 29 76.2 74.6 82.1 73.7 70.7 84.8 39 79.7 83.5 65.7 74.4 78.9 57.6 40 80 81 76.1 76.9 76.4 78.8 54 61.9 60.1 68.7 65.4 61.8 78.8 76 76.2 77.4 71.6 69.9 75.6 48.5 91 59.7 60.5 56.7 55.1 53.7 60.6 115 56.2 56.5 55.2 58.3 61 48.5 121 70.2 70.2 70.1 73.1 74.8 66.7 143 70.8 73.8 59.7 67.9 71.5 54.5

TABLE 9 Training cohort Validation cohort Accuracy Sensitivity Specificity Accuracy Sensitivity Specificity SEQ ID NO: (%) (%) (%) (%) (%) (%) 15_121 89.5 93.5 74.6 89.1 91.1 81.8 15_88 85.1 89.9 67.2 86.5 91.1 69.7 15_471 86.7 91.5 68.7 86.5 91.1 69.7 5_40 81.9 83.9 74.6 86.5 86.2 87.9 15_12 86.3 89.1 76.1 85.9 88.6 75.8 15_39 87.3 90.3 76.1 85.9 88.6 75.8 15_29 86.3 89.1 76.1 85.9 88.6 75.8 4_15 86 87.9 79.1 85.3 87 78.8

TABLE 10 Training cohort Validation cohort Accuracy Sensitivity Specificity Accuracy Sensitivity Specificity SEQ ID NO: (%) (%) (%) (%) (%) (%) 15_121_115 90.5 94 77.6 92.3 92.7 90.9 15_121_91 90.2 93.5 77.6 91.7 93.5 84.8 15_12_121 90.2 93.5 77.6 91.7 92.7 87.9 15_121_109 89.8 93.1 77.6 91 92.7 84.8 15_102_121 90.1 93.1 78.8 91 91.9 87.9 15_62_121 90.8 94 79.1 91 91.1 90.9 15_39_121 90.8 94.4 77.6 90.4 91.9 84.8 15_23_121 89.8 93.1 77.6 90.4 90.2 90.9 15_4_121 89.5 91.9 80.6 90.4 90.2 90.9 15_76_121 89.5 93.5 74.6 89.7 91.9 81.8 15_121_31 90.5 94 77.6 89.7 91.9 81.8 15_121_64 89.8 93.5 76.1 89.7 91.9 81.8 15_121_468 90.5 93.1 80.6 89.7 91.9 81.8 15_94_121 90.2 93.5 77.6 89.7 91.1 84.8 15_121_143 89.8 94 74.6 89.7 91.1 84.8 15_121_108 89.5 93.1 76.1 89.7 91.1 84.8 5_39_115 87.6 89.1 82.1 89.7 91.1 84.8 40_12_64 86.7 87.9 82.1 89.7 91.1 84.8 15_20_121 91.4 92.3 88.1 89.1 91.1 81.8 15_11_121 89.2 93.1 74.6 89.1 91.1 81.8 15_121_54 89.5 93.5 74.6 89.1 91.1 81.8 15_121_79 90.2 94.8 73.1 89.1 91.1 81.8 15_121_134 89.2 93.1 74.6 89.1 91.1 81.8 15_121_471 89.2 94 71.6 89.1 91.1 81.8 15_121_474 89.5 93.5 74.6 89.1 91.1 81.8 40_39_121 90.8 94 79.1 89.1 91.1 81.8 15_40_121 91.7 94.4 82.1 89.1 90.2 84.8 15_29_121 90.8 94 79.1 89.1 89.4 87.9 5_40_121 85.7 86.3 83.6 89.1 88.6 90.9 15_88_471 86 91.1 67.2 88.5 93.5 69.7 15_39_115 86 89.9 71.6 88.5 91.9 75.8 40_39_89 88.9 92.7 74.6 88.5 91.9 75.8 40_4_88 86 86.7 83.6 88.5 91.1 78.8 15_5_115 87.3 89.9 77.6 88.5 90.2 81.8 15_12_115 90.5 93.5 79.1 88.5 90.2 81.8 15_121_466 89.2 93.5 73.1 88.5 90.2 81.8 15_121_145 88.6 93.1 71.6 88.5 90.2 81.8 15_121_135 89.5 92.7 77.6 88.5 90.2 81.8 15_121_89 89.5 93.5 74.6 88.5 89.4 84.8 5_12_115 90.2 90.7 88.1 88.5 89.4 84.8 5_12_91 86.7 87.5 83.6 88.5 88.6 87.9 5_471_115 87.3 88.7 82.1 88.5 88.6 87.9 12_121_468 84.1 85.9 77.6 88.5 88.6 87.9 40_39_79 88.3 91.9 74.6 87.8 93.5 66.7 15_79_471 87.6 92.7 68.7 87.8 92.7 69.7 15_39_102 89.2 92.3 77.3 87.8 91.9 72.7 15_102_115 86 89.9 71.2 87.8 91.1 75.8 15_54_64 85.1 89.5 68.7 87.8 91.1 75.8 15_12_473 86.3 89.5 74.6 87.8 90.2 78.8 15_4_471 88.3 90.7 79.1 87.8 90.2 78.8 15_121_467 89.5 93.5 74.6 87.8 90.2 78.8 15_121_472 91.7 94.4 82.1 87.8 90.2 78.8 40_64_88 82.5 83.9 77.6 87.8 90.2 78.8 15_121_88 89.8 93.5 76.1 87.8 89.4 81.8 15_121_470 91.1 93.1 83.6 87.8 89.4 81.8 15_121_473 89.2 93.5 73.1 87.8 89.4 81.8 15_64_88 84.4 89.9 64.2 87.2 92.7 66.7 15_88_79 86 91.1 67.2 87.2 91.9 69.7 15_108_471 86.7 91.5 68.7 87.2 91.9 69.7 15_102_470 86.9 89.9 75.8 87.2 91.1 72.7 15_11_88 83.8 88.3 67.2 87.2 91.1 72.7 40_4_76 86.3 87.9 80.6 87.2 91.1 72.7 40_39_473 87.6 90.7 76.1 87.2 91.1 72.7 15_12_145 87.6 89.9 79.1 87.2 90.2 75.8 15_23_115 85.7 89.1 73.1 87.2 90.2 75.8 40_39_64 87.3 90.3 76.1 87.2 90.2 75.8 40_20_79 83.2 85.5 74.6 87.2 90.2 75.8 15_11_115 86 90.7 68.7 87.2 89.4 78.8 5_76_115 87.9 88.7 85.1 87.2 89.4 78.8 40_20_64 86.7 87.9 82.1 87.2 89.4 78.8 40_11_64 84.1 85.1 80.6 87.2 89.4 78.8 40_467_64 84.8 86.7 77.6 87.2 89.4 78.8 15_4_29 86.3 87.5 82.1 87.2 88.6 81.8 15_5_121 90.8 93.5 80.6 87.2 87.8 84.8 5_121_79 83.8 85.5 77.6 87.2 87 87.9 5_39_121 86.3 87.9 80.6 87.2 86.2 90.9 15_76_471 86 90.7 68.7 86.5 91.9 66.7 15_94_471 86.3 91.1 68.7 86.5 91.1 69.7 15_31_88 84.4 89.1 67.2 86.5 91.1 69.7 15_31_471 86.3 91.1 68.7 86.5 91.1 69.7 15_54_115 87.6 92.3 70.1 86.5 91.1 69.7 15_109_88 85.1 89.9 67.2 86.5 91.1 69.7 15_109_471 86.7 91.5 68.7 86.5 91.1 69.7 15_467_88 84.1 88.7 67.2 86.5 91.1 69.7 15_64_471 86 91.5 65.7 86.5 91.1 69.7 15_88_145 84.4 89.1 67.2 86.5 91.1 69.7 15_88_134 84.4 89.1 67.2 86.5 91.1 69.7 15_88_473 84.4 89.1 67.2 86.5 91.1 69.7 15_145_471 86.7 91.5 68.7 86.5 91.1 69.7 15_470_471 87.3 91.9 70.1 86.5 91.1 69.7 15_471_135 86.7 91.5 68.7 86.5 91.1 69.7 15_471_89 86.7 91.5 68.7 86.5 91.1 69.7 15_471_472 87 91.9 68.7 86.5 91.1 69.7 15_471_474 87 91.9 68.7 86.5 91.1 69.7 40_39_467 89.8 93.1 77.6 86.5 91.1 69.7 15_40_64 85.4 89.5 70.1 86.5 90.2 72.7 15_23_470 86.3 88.3 79.1 86.5 90.2 72.7 15_39_470 87 89.9 76.1 86.5 90.2 72.7 15_39_471 88.9 92.7 74.6 86.5 90.2 72.7 15_29_31 87 90.3 74.6 86.5 90.2 72.7 15_20_79 85.7 90.3 68.7 86.5 90.2 72.7 40_4_470 86 86.7 83.6 86.5 90.2 72.7 15_40_12 87.3 90.7 74.6 86.5 89.4 75.8 15_12_467 86.3 89.1 76.1 86.5 89.4 75.8 15_12_143 86.3 89.1 76.1 86.5 89.4 75.8 15_12_108 87.3 90.3 76.1 86.5 89.4 75.8 15_12_470 87.9 89.9 80.6 86.5 89.4 75.8 15_12_471 89.5 92.3 79.1 86.5 89.4 75.8 15_12_89 87 89.9 76.1 86.5 89.4 75.8 15_12_472 87 89.5 77.6 86.5 89.4 75.8 15_12_474 86.7 89.5 76.1 86.5 89.4 75.8 15_23_102 86.3 89.9 72.7 86.5 89.4 75.8 15_39_54 87.3 90.3 76.1 86.5 89.4 75.8 15_29_62 85.7 89.1 73.1 86.5 89.4 75.8 15_102_11 85.7 89.5 71.2 86.5 89.4 75.8 40_23_39 87.9 90.7 77.6 86.5 89.4 75.8 40_39_62 88.6 92.3 74.6 86.5 89.4 75.8 40_39_11 88.3 91.1 77.6 86.5 89.4 75.8 40_39_88 87.9 91.5 74.6 86.5 89.4 75.8 40_64_472 84.4 86.7 76.1 86.5 89.4 75.8 4_39_91 84.4 87.5 73.1 86.5 89.4 75.8 4_76_115 86.7 89.1 77.6 86.5 89.4 75.8 15_40_11 84.4 87.9 71.6 86.5 88.6 78.8 15_20_115 87.6 90.7 76.1 86.5 88.6 78.8 5_40_64 84.1 85.5 79.1 86.5 88.6 78.8 40_62_64 83.2 84.7 77.6 86.5 88.6 78.8 40_121_467 87.6 89.5 80.6 86.5 88.6 78.8 4_62_115 82.2 83.1 79.1 86.5 88.6 78.8 15_5_91 86.3 89.9 73.1 86.5 87.8 81.8 40_12_4 86.3 87.1 83.6 86.5 87.8 81.8 40_12_79 85.7 87.9 77.6 86.5 87.8 81.8 40_4_121 86 87.9 79.1 86.5 87.8 81.8 12_4_468 86.3 87.5 82.1 86.5 87.8 81.8 12_4_115 85.1 85.9 82.1 86.5 87.8 81.8 4_88_115 83.8 83.9 83.6 86.5 87.8 81.8 5_40_88 83.5 84.7 79.1 86.5 87 84.8 5_40_20 84.4 85.1 82.1 86.5 86.2 87.9 5_40_54 82.2 83.9 76.1 86.5 86.2 87.9 5_40_109 82.2 83.9 76.1 86.5 86.2 87.9 5_40_471 82.9 85.1 74.6 86.5 86.2 87.9 5_40_473 82.2 83.5 77.6 86.5 86.2 87.9 40_12_88 85.1 85.5 83.6 86.5 86.2 87.9 40_12_121 87 87.9 83.6 86.5 85.4 90.9 15_88_89 84.8 89.5 67.2 85.9 91.1 66.7 15_40_88 84.8 89.5 67.2 85.9 90.2 69.7 15_39_88 87.3 91.5 71.6 85.9 90.2 69.7 15_39_79 87.9 91.9 73.1 85.9 90.2 69.7 15_62_64 84.8 89.1 68.7 85.9 90.2 69.7 15_62_79 85.7 90.3 68.7 85.9 90.2 69.7 15_466_88 84.1 88.7 67.2 85.9 90.2 69.7 15_88_472 85.1 89.9 67.2 85.9 90.2 69.7 15_88_474 85.1 89.9 67.2 85.9 90.2 69.7 15_143_471 86.3 91.5 67.2 85.9 90.2 69.7 15_468_471 86.7 91.5 68.7 85.9 90.2 69.7 15_469_471 86.3 91.1 68.7 85.9 90.2 69.7 15_134_471 87 91.9 68.7 85.9 90.2 69.7 15_471_115 87.3 92.7 67.2 85.9 90.2 69.7 15_29_88 85.1 88.7 71.6 85.9 89.4 72.7 15_29_469 86.3 89.1 76.1 85.9 89.4 72.7 15_102_467 86.9 90.7 72.7 85.9 89.4 72.7 15_102_64 85.4 89.5 69.7 85.9 89.4 72.7 15_102_79 86.3 90.7 69.7 85.9 89.4 72.7 15_102_471 86.9 91.1 71.2 85.9 89.4 72.7 15_470_115 85.1 88.3 73.1 85.9 89.4 72.7 40_39_94 88.6 91.9 76.1 85.9 89.4 72.7 40_39_466 89.5 93.1 76.1 85.9 89.4 72.7 40_39_31 88.6 92.3 74.6 85.9 89.4 72.7 40_39_468 89.2 92.7 76.1 85.9 89.4 72.7 40_39_471 88.6 92.3 74.6 85.9 89.4 72.7 40_39_472 89.2 92.7 76.1 85.9 89.4 72.7 15_5_23 84.8 87.1 76.1 85.9 88.6 75.8 15_40_470 85.4 87.5 77.6 85.9 88.6 75.8 15_12_31 86.7 89.5 76.1 85.9 88.6 75.8 15_12_54 87 89.9 76.1 85.9 88.6 75.8 15_12_468 86.3 89.1 76.1 85.9 88.6 75.8 15_12_134 86.3 89.1 76.1 85.9 88.6 75.8 15_12_135 86.3 89.1 76.1 85.9 88.6 75.8 15_23_39 87.9 90.3 79.1 85.9 88.6 75.8 15_39_31 87.3 90.3 76.1 85.9 88.6 75.8 15_39_109 87.3 90.3 76.1 85.9 88.6 75.8 15_39_108 87.3 90.3 76.1 85.9 88.6 75.8 15_39_135 87.3 90.3 76.1 85.9 88.6 75.8 15_39_89 87.3 90.3 76.1 85.9 88.6 75.8 15_39_472 87.3 90.3 76.1 85.9 88.6 75.8 15_29_76 86.3 89.1 76.1 85.9 88.6 75.8 15_29_102 87.3 90.7 74.2 85.9 88.6 75.8 15_29_466 86.3 89.1 76.1 85.9 88.6 75.8 15_29_54 86 88.7 76.1 85.9 88.6 75.8 15_29_143 86.3 89.5 74.6 85.9 88.6 75.8 15_29_134 86 88.7 76.1 85.9 88.6 75.8 15_29_108 86.3 89.1 76.1 85.9 88.6 75.8 15_29_471 87 90.3 74.6 85.9 88.6 75.8 15_29_89 86.7 89.5 76.1 85.9 88.6 75.8 15_29_472 86.3 89.1 76.1 85.9 88.6 75.8 15_121_469 90.5 94.4 76.1 85.9 88.6 75.8 40_4_31 86.3 87.5 82.1 85.9 88.6 75.8 40_39_143 87.6 90.7 76.1 85.9 88.6 75.8 40_39_108 87.3 90.7 74.6 85.9 88.6 75.8 40_20_468 84.1 85.9 77.6 85.9 88.6 75.8 40_31_79 82.9 85.5 73.1 85.9 88.6 75.8 4_76_91 86 87.5 80.6 85.9 88.6 75.8 15_5_4 84.4 85.9 79.1 85.9 87.8 78.8 15_40_23 85.1 88.3 73.1 85.9 87.8 78.8 15_40_115 86.3 89.1 76.1 85.9 87.8 78.8 15_12_23 87.9 91.1 76.1 85.9 87.8 78.8 15_4_54 85.7 87.5 79.1 85.9 87.8 78.8 15_4_88 86.3 87.9 80.6 85.9 87.8 78.8 15_4_143 86.7 88.7 79.1 85.9 87.8 78.8 15_4_468 85.7 87.5 79.1 85.9 87.8 78.8 15_4_469 86 87.9 79.1 85.9 87.8 78.8 15_4_91 89.5 91.9 80.6 85.9 87.8 78.8 5_40_79 83.8 85.9 76.1 85.9 87.8 78.8 5_79_115 84.8 85.9 80.6 85.9 87.8 78.8 40_4_20 85.1 85.5 83.6 85.9 87.8 78.8 40_20_145 85.4 86.7 80.6 85.9 87.8 78.8 40_121_79 84.8 86.7 77.6 85.9 87.8 78.8 4_54_468 84.1 86.7 74.6 85.9 87.8 78.8 15_5_40 83.5 87.5 68.7 85.9 87 81.8 15_12_4 87.6 89.9 79.1 85.9 87 81.8 15_4_102 86.3 87.9 80.3 85.9 87 81.8 15_29_115 89.8 91.9 82.1 85.9 87 81.8 5_20_115 87.6 87.9 86.6 85.9 87 81.8 5_121_115 86.7 88.3 80.6 85.9 87 81.8 5_64_115 86 86.3 85.1 85.9 87 81.8 5_469_91 85.4 86.7 80.6 85.9 87 81.8 40_23_4 85.1 85.1 85.1 85.9 87 81.8 40_4_29 86 85.5 88.1 85.9 87 81.8 40_20_88 81.3 81.9 79.1 85.9 87 81.8 40_31_88 81.3 81.5 80.6 85.9 87 81.8 12_39_121 89.8 91.5 83.6 85.9 87 81.8 12_11_91 84.8 85.5 82.1 85.9 87 81.8 12_31_91 84.4 85.1 82.1 85.9 87 81.8 4_88_91 83.5 83.1 85.1 85.9 87 81.8 5_40_11 81.9 83.9 74.6 85.9 86.2 84.8 5_40_467 83.5 85.5 76.1 85.9 86.2 84.8 5_40_108 81.9 83.9 74.6 85.9 86.2 84.8 5_121_468 86.3 87.5 82.1 85.9 86.2 84.8 40_12_11 84.8 85.9 80.6 85.9 86.2 84.8 4_88_143 82.9 83.5 80.6 85.9 86.2 84.8 5_40_29 81.9 83.1 77.6 85.9 85.4 87.9 5_40_143 82.9 83.5 80.6 85.9 85.4 87.9 5_40_89 82.9 84.3 77.6 85.9 85.4 87.9 12_121_115 83.8 84.7 80.6 85.9 85.4 87.9 12_31_471 85.1 86.3 80.6 85.9 85.4 87.9

TABLE 11 Training cohort Validation cohort Accuracy Sensitivity Specificity Accuracy Sensitivity Specificity SEQ ID NO: (%) (%) (%) (%) (%) (%) 15_40_115_121 91.1 94 80.6 94.2 95.1 90.9 12_15_115_121 93 95.6 83.6 94.2 95.1 90.9 15_115_121_471 91.4 94.8 79.1 94.2 95.1 90.9 15_91_115_121 91.4 94 82.1 94.2 95.1 90.9 12_15_64_115 89.5 92.7 77.6 93.6 95.1 87.9 15_39_115_121 91.1 94.8 77.6 92.9 95.1 84.8 15_20_115_121 92.4 93.1 89.6 92.9 94.3 87.9 15_23_115_121 91.1 93.5 82.1 92.9 93.5 90.9 15_94_115_121 91.4 94 82.1 92.9 93.5 90.9 15_62_115_121 91.4 94.4 80.6 92.9 93.5 90.9 15_115_121_143 90.5 93.5 79.1 92.9 93.5 90.9 15_115_121_134 90.8 94.4 77.6 92.9 93.5 90.9 12_15_91_115 90.2 92.7 80.6 92.3 95.1 81.8 12_15_121_145 89.5 91.5 82.1 92.3 94.3 84.8 15_91_121_143 91.1 94.8 77.6 92.3 94.3 84.8 15_91_121_145 89.8 93.1 77.6 92.3 94.3 84.8 5_12_15_121 90.8 93.1 82.1 92.3 93.5 87.9 12_15_29_121 91.1 94 80.6 92.3 93.5 87.9 12_15_88_121 90.5 93.5 79.1 92.3 93.5 87.9 12_15_79_121 89.8 93.5 76.1 92.3 93.5 87.9 12_15_121_471 90.5 94 77.6 92.3 93.5 87.9 12_15_121_473 90.2 93.5 77.6 92.3 93.5 87.9 15_23_91_121 91.4 93.1 85.1 92.3 93.5 87.9 15_62_91_121 92.1 94.4 83.6 92.3 93.5 87.9 15_102_115_121 91.1 94 80.3 92.3 93.5 87.9 15_108_115_121 90.5 93.5 79.1 92.3 93.5 87.9 12_15_40_121 90.8 94 79.1 92.3 92.7 90.9 4_12_15_121 89.2 91.5 80.6 92.3 92.7 90.9 12_15_20_121 90.8 92.7 83.6 92.3 92.7 90.9 4_15_115_121 91.1 94 80.6 92.3 92.7 90.9 15_115_121_474 90.5 94 77.6 92.3 92.7 90.9 5_39_102_115 88.5 89.5 84.8 92.3 92.7 90.9 5_39_115_471 89.5 91.1 83.6 92.3 92.7 90.9 12_40_64_473 87 87.9 83.6 92.3 92.7 90.9 15_39_115_471 89.2 93.1 74.6 91.7 95.9 75.8 15_31_91_121 89.5 93.1 76.1 91.7 94.3 81.8 39_40_121_135 91.4 94.4 80.6 91.7 94.3 81.8 15_40_91_121 90.5 93.5 79.1 91.7 93.5 84.8 11_12_15_121 90.2 93.5 77.6 91.7 93.5 84.8 12_15_31_121 90.8 94 79.1 91.7 93.5 84.8 12_15_115_471 91.1 94 80.6 91.7 93.5 84.8 15_91_94_121 90.2 93.5 77.6 91.7 93.5 84.8 15_76_115_121 90.2 93.5 77.6 91.7 93.5 84.8 15_91_102_121 91.1 93.5 81.8 91.7 93.5 84.8 11_15_91_121 90.5 93.5 79.1 91.7 93.5 84.8 15_31_115_121 91.1 94.4 79.1 91.7 93.5 84.8 15_54_91_121 90.2 93.5 77.6 91.7 93.5 84.8 15_91_121_134 90.8 94 79.1 91.7 93.5 84.8 15_91_108_121 90.2 93.5 77.6 91.7 93.5 84.8 15_91_121_471 90.8 93.5 80.6 91.7 93.5 84.8 15_89_91_121 89.5 93.1 76.1 91.7 93.5 84.8 15_91_121_473 90.2 93.5 77.6 91.7 93.5 84.8 15_91_121_474 90.2 93.5 77.6 91.7 93.5 84.8 5_12_39_115 92.1 93.1 88.1 91.7 93.5 84.8 5_39_115_135 87.9 89.5 82.1 91.7 93.5 84.8 5_12_15_115 89.8 92.3 80.6 91.7 92.7 87.9 5_15_115_121 90.8 93.5 80.6 91.7 92.7 87.9 12_15_23_121 90.2 93.1 79.1 91.7 92.7 87.9 4_12_15_115 89.5 92.3 79.1 91.7 92.7 87.9 12_15_76_121 90.2 93.5 77.6 91.7 92.7 87.9 12_15_54_121 91.4 94 82.1 91.7 92.7 87.9 12_15_109_121 90.5 93.5 79.1 91.7 92.7 87.9 12_15_121_468 91.4 94 82.1 91.7 92.7 87.9 12_15_121_134 90.2 93.5 77.6 91.7 92.7 87.9 12_15_108_121 90.8 94 79.1 91.7 92.7 87.9 12_15_89_121 89.8 93.1 77.6 91.7 92.7 87.9 12_15_91_121 92.1 94.4 83.6 91.7 92.7 87.9 12_15_121_474 90.5 94 77.6 91.7 92.7 87.9 4_11_15_121 89.8 92.7 79.1 91.7 92.7 87.9 1l_15_102_121 90.1 93.1 78.8 91.7 92.7 87.9 15_54_102_121 90.1 93.1 78.8 91.7 92.7 87.9 15_102_108_121 89.8 92.7 78.8 91.7 92.7 87.9 15_115_121_466 90.5 94 77.6 91.7 92.7 87.9 15_54_115_121 91.4 94.4 80.6 91.7 92.7 87.9 15_109_115_121 91.7 94.4 82.1 91.7 92.7 87.9 15_64_115_121 91.7 95.2 79.1 91.7 92.7 87.9 15_88_115_121 90.2 93.5 77.6 91.7 92.7 87.9 15_79_115_121 91.7 95.6 77.6 91.7 92.7 87.9 15_115_121_145 90.5 94 77.6 91.7 92.7 87.9 15_115_121_468 90.8 93.5 80.6 91.7 92.7 87.9 15_23_121_471 90.8 93.5 80.6 91.7 91.9 90.9 4_15_109_121 90.8 93.1 82.1 91.7 91.9 90.9 15_62_121_471 91.4 94.8 79.1 91.7 91.9 90.9 11_15_115_121 90.5 93.5 79.1 91.7 91.9 90.9 15_39_40_115 88.6 91.5 77.6 91 95.1 75.8 15_31_40_121 89.2 93.1 74.6 91 94.3 78.8 15_23_39_115 87.3 91.1 73.1 91 94.3 78.8 15_31_39_121 91.1 95.2 76.1 91 94.3 78.8 15_79_121_468 91.7 95.6 77.6 91 94.3 78.8 20_39_40_l15 90.5 92.7 82.1 91 94.3 78.8 12_15_115_134 90.2 93.5 77.6 91 93.5 81.8 15_39_121_468 91.4 94.4 80.6 91 93.5 81.8 15_39_91_121 91.4 94.8 79.1 91 93.5 81.8 15_31_109_121 90.8 94.4 77.6 91 93.5 81.8 15_31_64_121 90.2 94.4 74.6 91 93.5 81.8 15_64_121_134 89.8 94 74.6 91 93.5 81.8 15_88_91_121 90.5 94.4 76.1 91 93.5 81.8 15_79_91_121 91.4 95.2 77.6 91 93.5 81.8 5_12_91_115 93 93.5 91 91 91.1 90.9 5_12_76_115 90.8 91.9 86.6 89.7 91.9 81.8 4_15_29_115 91.1 92.3 86.6 89.7 91.1 84.8 12_15_23_115 90.2 92.7 80.6 89.7 92.7 78.8 5_12_115_472 91.1 91.5 89.6 89.7 91.1 84.8 15_39_76_121 91.1 94.4 79.1 89.7 91.9 81.8 12_15_23_115 90.2 92.7 80.6 89.7 92.7 78.8 15_40_121_134 90.8 93.5 80.6 89.7 91.1 84.8 4_5_12_115 89.5 90.3 86.6 89.1 88.6 90.9 5_12_115_469 90.8 91.5 88.1 89.1 91.1 81.8 5_12_115_143 91.1 91.9 88.1 88.5 88.6 87.9 5_12_40_115 90.5 91.1 88.1 88.5 89.4 84.8 5_12_23_115 88.9 89.5 86.6 87.8 88.6 84.8 5_12_29_115 89.8 89.9 89.6 87.8 88.6 84.8 12_40_472_473 86.3 87.5 82.1 87.2 87.8 84.8 1_12_15_29 86.3 88.3 79.1 86.5 88.6 78.8 4_15_54_115 88.9 90.7 82.1 86.5 88.6 78.8 5_54_76_115 87.9 89.1 83.6 86.5 90.2 72.7 4_12_15_474 88.3 90.3 80.6 85.9 87 81.8 15_54_76_79 85.4 90.3 67.2 85.3 89.4 69.7 15_54_76_473 84.8 88.7 70.1 85.3 90.2 66.7 15_54_76_115 88.3 93.5 68.7 85.3 88.6 72.7 15_40_54_76 85.7 89.1 73.1 85.3 88.6 72.7 12_23_40_466 86.3 87.9 80.6 84 84.6 81.8 12_23_40_134 85.7 85.1 88.1 83.3 82.9 84.8 4_5_12_76 85.4 86.3 82.1 82.1 83.7 75.8

Comparative Example 1

<Biliary Tract Cancer Discriminant Performance of Existing Tumor Markers in Blood>

The concentrations of the existing tumor markers CEA and CA19-9 in blood were measured in the training cohort and the validation cohort obtained in Reference Example 1 above. When the concentrations of these tumor markers in blood are higher than the reference values described in Non-patent Literature 2 (CEA: 5 ng/mL, CA19-9: 37 U/mL), subjects are usually suspected of having cancer. Thus, whether or not the concentrations of CEA and CA19-9 in blood exceeded their reference values was confirmed for each sample, and the obtained results were assessed for the ability of these tumor markers to detect cancer in biliary tract cancer patients. The sensitivity of each existing marker in the training cohort and the validation cohort was calculated. The results are shown in Table 5. The sensitivity of CEA and CA19-9 was as low as 31.3% and 68.2%, respectively, in the training cohort, and was as low as 33.3% and 59.4%, respectively, in the validation cohort, demonstrating that neither of the markers is useful in the detection of biliary tract cancer (Table 5).

On the other hand, as shown above in Tables 3 and 4 of Examples 1 and 2, it can be concluded that all of the polynucleotides consisting of the nucleotide sequences represented by SEQ ID NOs: 1 to 125 have combinations of 1, 2 or more polynucleotides exhibiting sensitivity beyond the existing biliary tract cancer markers and thus serve as excellent diagnosis markers.

As shown in these Examples and Comparative Example, the kit, etc. and the method of the present invention can detect biliary tract cancer with higher sensitivity than the existing tumor markers and therefore permit early decision to carry out the surgical resection of a cancer site. As a result, improvement in 5-year survival rate and reduction in the rate of recurrence can be achieved.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

According to the present invention, biliary tract cancer can be effectively detected by a simple and inexpensive method. This enables early detection, diagnosis and treatment of biliary tract cancer. The method of the present invention can detect biliary tract cancer with limited invasiveness using the blood of a patient and therefore allows biliary tract cancer to be detected conveniently and rapidly.

All publications, patents, and patent applications cited herein are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety. 

The invention claimed is:
 1. A method for detecting biliary tract cancer in a human subject, comprising: measuring an expression level of hsa-miR-4665-5p in a blood, serum or plasma sample from the subject; comparing the measured expression level of hsa-miR-4665-5p to a control expression level for a healthy subject; detecting a decreased level of hsa-miR-4665-5p in the sample from the subject as compared to the control expression level from the sample from the healthy subject; wherein the decreased level of hsa-miR-4665-5p indicates that the subject has biliary tract cancer; and wherein the method further comprises treating the subject for the biliary tract cancer or performing a diagnostic procedure on the subject with the biliary tract cancer; wherein the treating comprises surgery, radiotherapy, chemotherapy or a combination thereof; and wherein the diagnostic procedure comprises a biochemical examination of hepatic dysfunction markers in the sample, detecting a concentration of biliary tract tumor biomarker protein in the sample, or imaging the biliary tract of the human subject.
 2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the expression level of hsa-miR-4665-5p in the sample is measured by using a kit or device comprising a nucleic acid(s) that specifically binds to hsa-miR-4665-5p.
 3. The method according to claim 2, wherein the kit or device further comprises nucleic acid(s) capable of specifically binding to one or more polynucleotide(s) selected from the group consisting of other biliary tract cancer markers: miR-125a-3p, miR-6893-5p, miR-4476, miR-4294, miR-150-3p, miR-6729-5p, miR-7641, miR-6765-3p, miR-6820-5p, miR-575, miR-1469, miR-663a, miR-6075, miR-4634, miR-423-5p, miR-4454, miR-7109-5p, miR-6789-5p, miR-6877-5p, miR-4792, miR-4530, miR-7975, miR-6724-5p, miR-8073, miR-7977, miR-1231, miR-6799-5p, miR-615-5p, miR-4450, miR-6726-5p, miR-6875-5p, miR-4734, miR-16-5p, miR-602, miR-4651, miR-8069, miR-1238-5p, miR-6880-5p, miR-8072, miR-4723-5p, miR-4732-5p, miR-6125, miR-6090, miR-7114-5p, miR-564, miR-451a, miR-3135b, miR-4497, miR-3622a-5p, miR-6850-5p, miR-6821-5p, miR-5100, miR-6872-3p, miR-4433-3p, miR-1227-5p, miR-3188, miR-7704, miR-3185, miR-1908-3p, miR-6781-5p, miR-6805-5p, miR-8089, miR-4486, miR-6722-3p, miR-1260a, miR-4707-5p, miR-6741-5p, miR-1260b, miR-1246, miR-6845-5p, miR-4638-5p, miR-6085, miR-1228-3p, miR-4534, miR-5585-3p, miR-4741, miR-4433b-3p, miR-197-5p, miR-718, miR-4513, miR-4446-3p, miR-619-5p, miR-6816-5p, miR-6778-5p, miR-24-3p, miR-1915-3p, miR-4665-3p, miR-4449, miR-6889-5p, miR-486-3p, miR-7113-3p, miR-642a-3p, miR-7847-3p, miR-6768-5p, miR-1290, miR-7108-5p, miR-92b-5p, miR-663b, miR-3940-5p, miR-4467, miR-6858-5p, miR-4417, miR-3665, miR-4736, miR-4687-3p, miR-1908-5p, miR-5195-3p, miR-4286, miR-3679-3p, miR-6791-5p, miR-1202, miR-3656, miR-4746-3p, miR-3184-5p, miR-3937, miR-6515-3p, miR-6132, miR-187-5p, miR-7111-5p, miR-5787, miR-6779-5p, miR-4516, miR-4649-5p, miR-760, miR-3162-5p, miR-3178, miR-940, miR-4271, miR-6769b-5p, miR-4508, miR-6826-5p, miR-6757-5p, miR-3131, and miR-1343-3p; and/or miR-6808-5p, miR-6774-5p, miR-4656, miR-6806-5p, miR-1233-5p, miR-328-5p, miR-4674, miR-2110, miR-6076, miR-3619-3p, miR-92a-2-5p, miR-128-1-5p, miR-638, miR-2861, miR-371a-5p, miR-211-3p, miR-1273g-3p, miR-1203, miR-122-5p, miR-4258, miR-4484, miR-4648 and miR-6780b-5p.
 4. The method according to claim 1, comprising performing the diagnostic procedure on the subject. 